Hospice Nurse Shares Remarkable Last Wishes That Most People Have On Their Deathbeds

Some people don’t recognize a favor until it’s gone, and in Nurse Julie’s world, the “favor” is time. She’s spent years at life’s edge, sitting with people in their last stretch, listening to what lingers when everything else fades.

Her patients come in all shapes and stories, but the same two wishes keep surfacing. First, “I wish I didn’t spend so much time at work,” said with the kind of regret that lands like a quiet punch. Second, “I wish I would have appreciated my health,” followed by that stunned realization that breathing, walking, and feeling the sun are not guaranteed.

And once you hear those exact lines enough times, you start noticing what people are really trying to fix, even in their final moments.

For years, Nurse Julie has walked alongside those at life’s edge.

YouTube/Hospice Nurse Julie

That’s when Julie’s “two wishes” pattern stops sounding poetic and starts sounding painfully specific, like it’s been carved into every goodbye she’s witnessed.

Through her years of experience, Julie has witnessed hundreds of people take their final breaths. Despite the diversity of her patients—different ages, backgrounds, and stories—two wishes consistently echo from their deathbeds.

The first is startling in its simplicity yet profound in its implications: “I wish I didn’t spend so much time at work.” It’s a sentiment we hear often but rarely take seriously until it’s too late. In a society that glorifies hustle culture and celebrates busyness, this regret hits hard.

For Julie, hearing this repeatedly reinforced how vital it is to strike a balance between ambition and living a life that fulfills us in other, deeper ways.

The second wish Julie hears even more often is one we might not expect: “I wish I would have appreciated my health.” Health, as they say, is wealth. Yet, how often do we take the time to celebrate the simple joys of being well? Breathing effortlessly, feeling the sun on our skin, moving without pain—these everyday miracles go unnoticed until illness strips them away.

Julie has taken this lesson to heart, creating a nightly gratitude list to remind herself of the small blessings in her life. It’s a habit she recommends for anyone wanting to avoid this common regret. “I like the fact that I can breathe, I’m walking around, I can feel the sunshine,” she shared. “Little things like that.”

Then the work regret hits again, the same sentence about time at the job, even though each patient’s life looked completely different from the next.

By addressing fears and uncertainties, we allow individuals to express their true desires, leading to more meaningful final moments.

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Julie has noticed a striking pattern in the final wishes of those nearing the end of their lives.

YouTube/Hospice Nurse Julie

Right after that, the health regret comes in, and Julie’s description of “I can breathe, I’m walking around, I can feel the sunshine” makes it feel weirdly close to home.

For Julie, her mission isn’t just about preparing people for death—it’s about encouraging them to embrace life more fully. By pulling back the veil on the dying process, she gives us a gift that’s equal parts sobering and inspiring: the opportunity to live with intention.

So, what will you take away from her wisdom? Perhaps it’s time to pause, breathe, and appreciate the simple things. Because in the end, it’s often those simple things that mean the most.

So when Julie talks about her nightly gratitude list, it ties back to those deathbed wishes, like she’s trying to prevent the ending before it arrives.

Embracing the inevitability of death can profoundly alter how individuals and families experience their final moments. The article highlights the importance of engaging in candid conversations about our wishes and regrets, serving as a catalyst for deeper connections and emotional healing. By encouraging open dialogues and reflective practices, the narrative invites readers to rethink their relationship with mortality. This transformative approach not only aids those approaching the end of life but also enriches the emotional landscape for their loved ones. Such discussions promote a compassionate perspective on one of life’s most challenging realities, urging us to confront our fears and uncertainties with greater clarity and peace.

Nobody plans to regret their job or their health, but Julie’s patients show how it sneaks up anyway.

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