I am not sure what people need to shake them, wake them- into hearing that this is simply not a practice life.

I don’t think I’d be a very good life coach if I never reflected on the stark reality that we will not live forever. Call me grim, but I believe we should all visit the cemetery… maybe even on our birthday, to be reminded that each year passing is not guaranteed. You’ll notice a lot of grave stones where some didn’t even make it to 20 years. Ask yourself honestly, how would you be operating and functioning, what decisions might you make or be making if you knew you only had three years left.

Chances are, you wouldn’t stay in your corporate job that you went to University for, that you feel pressured by culture, parents or community and keep your routine as it is.

How would you make decisions if you knew you couldn’t fail, and there was a guarantee in your eventual success, even if it took a little longer than you thought. I think more likely, you would go all in on that little idea you’ve had bubbling away inside for many decades.

I hear it and see it all the time. Clients have been recently coming to me with shifts from high powered corporate roles and looking for career breaks to reset and take care of themselves, or to open small businesses, such as a landscaping business, florist or ones working with animals. This is a shift from previous years where ‘money and status’ were more dominant, and praised by others for chasing.

Now when you see a management job, no one is going for it- why? Because the pressure of having huge responsibilities / KPI’s, and managing a team of direct reports KPI’s is simply no longer worth the slight increase in pay, while the government have a field day lapping up the lashings from your increased tax bill.

I am all for the importance and necessity of paying taxes in this wonderful country of Australia, but if it means you’re working another 10 hours a week and missing out on family down time every evening… what have you really won? A title.

News- fuh-lash - YOUR JOB TITLE DOES NOT GO ON YOUR GRAVESTONE.

What Retirees and the Dying Wish They Knew About Life

When we think about retirement, work, and long-term goals, it’s easy to focus on money, titles, and achievements. But research—and real-life experience—shows that what truly matters goes much deeper.

One of the most widely cited insights comes from Bronnie Ware, a hospice nurse who spent years caring for people at the end of their lives. She asked hundreds of people nearing death what they regretted most about how they had lived their lives. Her findings are simple, yet profound, and they speak directly to anyone thinking about alignment, purpose, and meaningful living:

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
Many people realise too late that they spent decades following other people’s rules—parents, culture, career expectations—rather than listening to their own values and desires.
“I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
This is the regret is so commonly cited. Retirees often wish they had prioritised life beyond work—time with loved ones, personal projects, hobbies and moments of rest.
“I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
Relationships are a consistent source of fulfilment and joy, but they require attention and maintenance. Many people let busy schedules, work, or distance get in the way, only to regret it later.
“I wish I had let myself be happier.”
People realise that happiness is a choice they often postponed. They stuck to routines, avoided risk, or assumed joy would come “later,” only to find that it was never automatic.
“I wish I’d expressed my feelings more openly.”
Bottling up emotions, avoiding difficult conversations, or prioritising politeness over honesty is a common regret. Authentic expression strengthens relationships and personal integrity.

What happens when you get into the garden and follow your passion. Pictured: Gardener with pink and purple geraniums in tyre planters.

Why This Matters for Life Coaching and Purpose
These regrets aren’t about career success, titles, or money—they’re about living in alignment with your values, purpose, and relationships. As a life coach, I see this pattern over and over: people achieve their career goals and financial milestones, only to realise that time and connection are irreplaceable.

Turtle steps to alignment
If you want a life lived fully, the lesson is clear: don’t wait. Listen to yourself now, invest in relationships, take risks, and make choices that feel true to your values. Money, status, and achievement are important, but they rarely appear on anyone’s gravestone. What does matter is whether you lived a life that felt like yours.

I think the reason people don’t make small shifts throughout life is because they believe they have to do it all at once. That’s a big lie. Life is rarely transformed overnight. It’s the small, consistent “1-degree turns” that slowly guide you toward a life of alignment.

One client of mine wanted to start a landscaping business after many years working as an accountant. Rather than throwing their life into shock, they began with what Martha Beck calls “turtle steps.”

How do you nurture a vision so it grows naturally, without forcing it? My client started small: volunteering at the local community garden on Saturdays. They came home with soil on their hands, feeling rejuvenated from a weekend spent in nature and conversation with fellow garden enthusiasts. Over time, they began offering advice on planting and design, then taking small paid jobs on weekends. Eventually, those small steps built enough confidence to transition into their business full time.

What this shows is simple: when you lean into your passion and put yourself first, opportunities follow. But if you stay at home, stuck in complaint, scrolling through social media, nursing a glass of wine and venting about your frustrations, your energy gets trapped in stagnation. In that state, opportunities simply cannot reach you.

Fulfillment isn’t something that happens by accident. It’s cultivated through intentional action, curiousity, and the courage to take small, aligned steps every day.

If you want to flesh out what you want to focus on you can download my Momentum Month template:

Momentum Month (pdf)

Speaking of small steps, if you’re interested in exploring the your potential through coaching or know more about what it is/isn’t, I’d love to hear from you via my query form or email: hello@lifecoachjilly.com

Get in touch

Life coach jilly is a Melbourne, Australia based Life coach, helping people globally reach their potential through change, transition and taking risks. See more here: www.lifecoachjilly.com

ABOUT JILLY