ďťżDeathbed Regrets
Welcome to the Deep Dive. We're here to, you know, cut through the noise and really get to the heart of compelling stories and research. Today, uh, we're doing something a bit different. It's a unique kind of deep dive, very personal, but I think profoundly universal too. We're not dissecting a big report this time.
Instead, we're plunging right into a human story, a real turning point, documented in this insightful piece called Deathbed Regrets. It was written by Curt Rose, who's the founder [email protected]. What makes this well really compelling is that we're getting a front-row seat to someone's significant shift. It speaks directly to what we aim to explore here: living a life with purpose, action, and fulfillment.
Exactly. And our goal today really is to go beyond just telling Curt's story. We want to pull out the key insight, the actionable stuff from his experience, and turn his personal moment into something like a blueprint, you know? For embracing possibility wherever you are in life. It's not just about his motivations; it's about finding those universal triggers that can help anyone shift from maybe dreaming to actually doing.
Mm-hmm. It's a great example of agency, showing that you have more control than you might think. Couldn't agree more. It's about understanding that moment when the alarm clock doesn't just buzz, it roars. Yeah. It forces a fundamental changeâa great lesson in not letting your dreams gather dust.
So let's really dig into what happened. Okay. So Curt's significant shift. It started, ironically, on a totally normal day. He was just driving, running his own business, probably thinking about work, maybe even pondering the topic of deathbed regrets for his newsletter, you know, and then, bam, a huge semi-truck roared past him on the highway.
Happens all the time, right? It's another truck on the road. Yeah. Except, well, it wasn't just any truck this time, because plastered right across the back of this trailer were giant letters. Impossible to miss was this message, so short and potent. It just stopped him cold. It said die with memories, not dreams. Wow.
Yeah, like the universe rented a billboard on an 18-wheeler. A direct challenge. That's fascinating. And Curt talks about this, right? Sometimes, the universe doesn't whisper; it just yells past you at 70 miles per hour. Exactly. It wasn't subtle. It was, uh, a real confrontation. Psychologically speaking, it's a classic trigger.
That external event, creating this sudden cognitive dissonance, he probably knew somewhere inside about those unfulfilled dreams. But this. This just cut through everything. The daily noise, the excuses we all make, forced him face-to-face with what he'd been putting off. Shook him right out of autopilot.
A real moment of reckoning. Yeah. So what was it specifically that he realized he'd been postponing for so long, even though he had, you know, a pretty full life already? Well, Curt's pretty open about it. He says, for as long as he could remember, he had this kind of mental list of dreams he just carried over year after year.
Like an unfinished to-do list that just gets longer, we all have those. I think we do. It's a very human thing. These aspirational lists, imagining future versions of ourselves, and these weren't small things either, right? We're talking major life goals, like wanting to retire early enough to really enjoy life, not just scrape by, yeah.
To thrive. Earning a master's degree from a university, he took pride in that intellectual challenge, building his own flexible online business, and breaking free from the traditional mold. Mm-hmm. Health too. Yeah. Getting healthy, losing weight. That link between physical wellbeing and just living better, traveling often means meaningful experiences, not just stuff.
And, oh, the one that gets me becoming a real guitarist. Not just noodling, but actually playing. Right? That yearning for mastery and creativity, but the stark reality is what hits home for so many people, he admits, by age 60. Much of that list is still undone. And look, it's not about judging him or anyone, right?
It's just acknowledging a really common human experience. You hit a certain age, you look back at these dreams you've held onto maybe for decades, and realize, I. You haven't really gone for them. A sobering moment, but also motivating. Right? It shows the gap between what we intend and what we actually do.
The implementation gap, psychologists call it; we know what we want, but acting on it consistently is the challenge. And it's important. Like you said, this wasn't someone miserable. Curt makes it clear he had to reach. Married, as he says, the sweetest woman on the planet, raised four kids, nine grandkids.
Now he cherishes them. He'd had business wins and his word face. Plants, you know, the ups and downs of taking risks. Sure. The reality of life, right? Seasons of joy, seasons of challenge. He calls himself just an ordinary human talent. It wasn't about lacking things. He had a lot, but still felt that pull, you know, those personal dreams just sitting there.
That's a really key point, and his thoughts on why they sat there are so relatable. He says Maybe fear. Maybe timing, maybe just life getting in the way of living. And those are excuses. They feel like honest observations, but we all get caught up. Right. The daily grind, job, family, and money push those big personal dreams aside.
The tyranny of the urgent. Exactly. It overshadows the importance of his self-awareness here. That's what makes his story powerful. He sees the real obstacles, the fear, and the feeling of being overwhelmed that we all face. This leads us directly to the significant shift. That truck moment forces the issue. Curt explains that hitting 60 suddenly brings on those deathbed regrets, quotes, correct.
They weren't just clichĂŠs anymore. Things like living life to the fullest. Don't die with your music still inside you. They stopped being platitudes and started feeling like, well. Instructions. Urgent ones, right? A personal mandate, almost. Yeah. This is where his whole mindset flips. It's a profound change. He shares this powerful belief.
It aligns perfectly with cognitive reframing principles. The past is just information. It is not a prison sentence. The present is an opportunity. And the future. That's where the magic happens. Love that. The past is just information. It's not just a nice freeze, it's a total reframe. He's choosing not to see past inaction as failure or something that limits him.
Now it's just data that frees him up from regret, right? Mm-hmm. And makes the present, the launchpad, and a pure growth mindset. Believing you can develop abilities through effort. A total pivot from what I didn't do to what I can do. That shift is often the key catalyst for real change, and right out of that reframe comes this.
This is a really simple yet powerful thought for him. I can accomplish anything I truly set my mind to. Hmm. It sounds basic, maybe, but when that really clicks for someone. It unlocks a whole new level of personal power, doesn't it? It really does. It moves from just an idea to a core belief. Mm-hmm. So once that belief was solid, the only question left wasn't whether he could do it, but whether he would finally start doing it.
Mm-hmm. Which again, points to that gap between knowing and doing. Even after a big insight, acting is the next hurdle. He clearly didn't wanna be that guy. You know, the "remember when guy" always talking about missed chances, or the armchair quarterback, exactly. Critiquing from the sidelines while his own dreams just sat there.
He chose something else to be, as he puts it, a quiet example of what's possible, inspiring through action, not just talk. That difference is between just wanting something and actually making it happen. Implementation. And Wow, did he start implementing? This is where it gets really inspiring, proof that it's never too late.
Mm-hmm. His story becomes like a how-to guide, not just a nice anecdote. Okay. First, he pursued his academic dream by applying to the University of Florida's master's program in entrepreneurship. I mean, think about that. Jumping back into a demanding master's program at 60. Yeah. The grit involved alongside students, who are often decades younger.
Yeah. And he didn't just apply. He got in; he's on track to graduate in December 2025. Mm-hmm. That says a great deal about a commitment to lifelong learning. Pushing yourself intellectually. It's the process, not just the piece of paper. Absolutely. And what's really inspiring, too, is that he didn't just hit the books; he tackled fear head-on, specifically the fear of public speaking.
He actively faced it, entered pitch competitions, and dealt with eye pressure, pitching complex ideas to, you know. Potential investors, seasoned pros, enormous pressure, and he didn't just show up; he won some of them. That demonstrates a genuine willingness to get uncomfortable and seek out challenges for growth. It proves that idea, right?
Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. Success often follows vulnerability. And then he launched retirepreneur.com. Took all that learning and insight and built this venture. It's not just a website, it's a platform. Growing out of his own journey, helping others navigate their path to a fulfilling retirement is another dream checked off, turning personal growth into something that helps others build impact.
And let's not forget the health piece. He lost weight, which for many is a huge challenge, but it's more than the weight loss. It's reclaiming vitality. He's active now, hiking, walking, biking, and doing Pilates with his wife. Sheri, this isn't some quick fix. It's a lifestyle change, a commitment to long-term wellbeing.
Consider how that affects his energy, including playing with his grandkids, enjoying life with his wife, his quality of life, and his travel. Anyone who loves exploring will appreciate this. He and his wife, Shari, committed to traveling somewhere. Every single month starting in 2026, even short trips count. Think about the planning, the intention behind that.
That's real commitment. Yeah. Imagine the memories they're actively creating. Yeah. Building a life rich with experiences. Not someday, maybe dreams. And then there's the guitar. I like this part 'cause it feels so real. He admits he's still working on his guitar shops. Some dreams take longer, right?
Especially mastering something like an instrument. So, it's not a story of instant perfection; it's an ongoing commitment. It shows that transformation is a journey and there's joy in the pursuit itself. Even if mastery takes time, patience, and persistence, it includes parts without regret. After all this incredible change, Curt brings it back to us, the listener.
He says, if I can accomplish all of this and still show up as a loving husband, father, and Pappy, that's what his grandkids call him, that I'll leave this world full of stories, not regrets. Such a powerful point. Building a legacy of lived experience. Showing fulfillment doesn't mean sacrificing relationships.
And then he hits you with the direct truth. Here's the honest truth: if I can do it, so can you. And that's not meant as some fluffy platitude. It's a real statement of belief. Belief in the capacity of the ordinary person for extraordinary change. He's proof. It's possible. It leverages that idea of social proof, doesn't it?
If someone is relatable, like Curt did, it opens a door for others, and he drives it home. You don't need to be special. You don't need permission. Think about that. How often do we wait? Mm-hmm. For a sign for someone else's? Okay. For the perfect time that never comes, right? His story just smashes that idea.
The power is already inside you to start. Stop waiting for permission; activate your own drive. It really boils down to a simple call to action. You just need to start filling that bucket with stories, adventures, and choices that feel true to you. It's all about personal agency, making deliberate decisions align with who you really are.
So your life reflects what you truly wanted, not just what you vaguely dreamed about. It taps into that intrinsic motivation of doing things because they satisfy you. What a fantastic journey. Curt Rose, the founder of Retirepreneur.com, shared with us how he shifted his whole view on what's possible even after 60.
Just by deciding consciously to fill his life with memories, not regrets, it really shows our timeline for fulfillment. It's in our own hands. We can rewrite the story anytime. Absolutely. And it just underscores that a profoundly personal story like Curt's holds universal lessons âlessons about agency, courage, and living a life filled with purpose and action, no matter your starting point.
A powerful reminder: the past informs us, but it doesn't have to define our future. So true. So, as we wrap up this deep dive, let's leave you with Curt's own provocative question. The same one that the semi-truck basically threw in that day. What's still sitting in your dream bucket? Waiting to become a memory.
