After decades spent caring for individuals in the final stages of life, hospice nurse Julie McFadden has noticed a pattern that repeats itself with remarkable consistency.
It is not about wealth. It is not about possessions. And it is rarely about career achievements, accolades, or material success.
Instead, what people often reflect on in their final days is far more subtle, yet profoundly impactful.
Julie has devoted her career to supporting people through life’s most vulnerable moments. In her work, she witnesses emotions and truths that many do not encounter until much later—if ever. Beyond her bedside care, she has shared these insights widely through speaking engagements, writing, and social media, helping millions reconsider what matters most when time feels finite.
Her goal is not to frighten, but to gently illuminate what is often overlooked in the busyness of daily life.
What People Reflect on as Life Winds Down
As individuals approach the end of life, their focus often shifts.
Daily pressures fade into the background. Schedules, deadlines, and long-term goals lose urgency. What rises to the surface instead is a quiet, honest reflection on how they lived, what they valued, and what truly mattered.
Julie explains that people often become uncommonly candid during these moments. They share their regrets and realizations not to complain, but to make sense of their experiences.
One frequent regret she hears is overworking. Many wish they had spent less time consumed by careers and responsibilities and more time with loved ones or on experiences that brought them joy.
Julie acknowledges the complexity of this reality. Most people work out of necessity, driven by financial needs or family obligations. Yet, even within that reality, there is often a wish that they had achieved more balance, prioritized relationships, and savored life’s moments before it was too late.
However, the reflection she hears most often surprises people. It is neither dramatic nor external—it is simple, intimate, and deeply human.
The Reflection People Often Don’t Expect
Julie shares that the most common insight she hears from patients is not about what they failed to do or what opportunities they missed.
It is about health.
More specifically, people wish they had appreciated their health while they still had it.
When the body is strong, it is easy to overlook the quiet miracle of everyday physical capability. The ability to breathe without effort, walk without pain, sleep comfortably, or enjoy a meal with ease often feels mundane—taken for granted until it is lost or diminished.
Julie has observed this realization countless times. Patients long for the days when their bodies were reliable, expressing gratitude for small freedoms they once rushed past without notice. What had seemed ordinary becomes precious.
Lessons Julie Has Incorporated Into Her Own Life
Witnessing these reflections has profoundly shaped how Julie approaches her own life.
She emphasizes intentionality, striving to notice the aspects of daily life she might otherwise take for granted. Even small, ordinary moments carry new meaning.
Every day, she maintains a simple gratitude practice: jotting down things she appreciates, even if they seem minor.
The ability to walk freely.
Breathing without difficulty.
Feeling the warmth of sunlight on her skin.
These are not milestones or achievements, but foundations of independence and comfort. Recognizing them keeps Julie grounded in the present, reminding her that health cannot be assumed.
Habits She Avoids
Julie has also become mindful of habits that can undermine long-term well-being.
She openly discusses avoiding daily alcohol use, smoking or vaping, and high-risk recreational activities. Her approach is observational rather than judgmental: she has cared for numerous patients whose health challenges might have been delayed or mitigated with different lifestyle choices earlier in life.
Her guidance is not about perfection. It is about prevention where possible and making thoughtful decisions when change is within reach.
Why These Reflections Matter at Any Age
Although Julie’s insights come from caring for individuals nearing the end of life, they are valuable for everyone.
You do not need a terminal diagnosis to pause and reflect. Awareness of your own health can inform choices and inspire gratitude long before illness occurs.
It begins with simple, practical habits:
Noticing how your body feels each day.
Taking rest when needed.
Making lifestyle choices that support long-term comfort and independence.
Small, repeated actions cultivate quality of life far more than occasional dramatic interventions.
A Gentle Reminder, Not a Warning
Julie emphasizes that her observations are not intended to frighten.
Her goal is the opposite: to encourage a life lived fully, appreciating what already works well.
Health, when present, is quiet. It does not demand attention. Yet it sustains everything else we value.
By learning from those reflecting on life’s final chapter, we can make choices rooted in gratitude rather than regret.
Sometimes, the most profound lessons are not about what people wished they had done differently. They are about what they wished they had noticed sooner.
Julie McFadden’s decades of experience offer a clear message: the value of health and the quiet joys of daily life cannot be overstated. They shape the foundation for relationships, personal fulfillment, and contentment.
By pausing to recognize them, practicing mindfulness, and prioritizing what truly matters, we can live richer, more intentional lives, long before reaching the point of hindsight.