The silhouette of a person standing in a graveyard in the fall, accepting that death is a part of life

This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" by Bronnie Ware. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.

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Why is it important to accept death as a part of life? How can facing your mortality make you happier?

While it may feel uncomfortable to acknowledge, you will die one day and that’s a fact. Rather than living your life in fear of death, it’s healthier to accept that death is natural and to live life in a way that will leave you regret-free.

Here’s what palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware has to say about accepting death.

Accept Death as a Normal Part of Life

Ware writes that in our society, we avoid thinking and talking about death. Because of this, we often don’t know how to react when we encounter death in our lives—whether we’re facing our own or the death of someone close to us. Ware argues that to live without regret, we must accept death as a part of life.

(Shortform note: In Being Mortal, Atul Gawande says that the decline of multigenerational households has contributed to our reluctance to accept death as a natural part of life. In the past, multiple generations often lived together under one roof, with the elderly living with their adult children and grandchildren. In this arrangement, younger people witnessed the realities of aging and death up close as older relatives declined and passed away. With the elderly increasingly living apart from younger generations, often in nursing homes, the end of life has become more hidden and unfamiliar, which has left us less equipped to think about and accept death.)

Why Accepting Death as a Part of Life Will Make You Happier

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Here's what you'll find in our full The Top Five Regrets of the Dying summary:

  • The beliefs that prevent you from living to your fullest potential
  • How to make a change in your life before it’s too late
  • The most common regrets people have before they die

Hannah Aster

Hannah graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English and double minors in Professional Writing and Creative Writing. She grew up reading fantasy books and has always carried a passion for fiction. However, Hannah transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018 and now enjoys sharing travel guides and trying to inspire others to see the world.

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