The deathbed fallacy

This topic has bothered me for years. So now, in a moment of inspiration instigated by Wait But Why and drinking a glass or two of bourbon, I want to hash it out. It is something I call the Deathbed Fallacy. What is the Deathbed Fallacy? People on their deathbeds regret not spending more time of their life with their family, traveling more, worrying less, etc. I’ve heard this truism echoed by growth gurus and spiritualists. It is amplified by newspapers. It comes up at dinner discussions. The origin the list of regrets is the palliative nurse Bronnie Ware who listed the following most common regrets: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I didn’t work so hard. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I wish that I had let myself be happier.” All well and good. A bit vague, but seems like solid advice. So what is the problem? The Fallacy The fallacy is to assume ... Read full article.