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Someone shared a list of things terminally ill cancer patients think we should appreciate more and it’s gone viral, for good reason

In the swing: Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley in the film of John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’
In the swing: Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley in the film of John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’

A Redditor who said they work with terminally ill cancer patients shared a heartwarming list of what they say you should appreciate while you’re alive.

The funny thing about it is that nothing on it cost any money, involves technology or travelling.

They were just everyday moments - things like the smell of rain and listening to your grandparents tell stories.

The list prompted a wave of touching replies and the thread went viral.

The original post read:

The things my patients say they'll miss the most are NOT seeing the World Landmarks, buying fancy things, that new car, “living it up” party style.

Here's the list of things patients say we should appreciate more:

Watching my sons throw a baseball

Listening to my grandparents tell stories

My girlfriend surprising me with a kiss on the cheek

Holding my wife in my arms knowing there's no where in the world I'd rather be

Gram's Sunday dinners and the whole family getting together

My dog

Seeing my fiancé smile and feeling his arms wrap around me

My daughter running to me when I get home

The smell of flowers and rain

The day I got married. I said I never would. And then I met her. And now I have to leave her.

Smelling the fireplace on Christmas morning with the family

All my friends

Watching my family sleep

The rush of weekday mornings. I know it sounds crazy, but I'll miss it. I'll miss the coffee, the crowded bathrooms, my wife's quick peck goodbye, the kids forgetting their lunch.. you get my point

Rain. Is that weird?

One person commenting on the post, user DoEyeNoU, said they lost their best friend of over 20 years to cancer. The friend also told spoke about the things she would miss and nothing she said involved money. DoEyeNoU wrote:

...it was the things we take for granted in real life: family, friends, pets, babies, watching the sun rise and set thunderstorms, and reading a good book.

What she said changed my life. I will never look at any of those things again without appreciation.I’m sorry she had to die in order for me to learn to live. But thanks, Deb, you really were my BFF until the very end. I miss you.

Generations ago, in the early years of the 20th century, dying was something that used to happen at home. The National Council for Palliative Care said 85 per cent of people still died in their home with their family.

But this century, less than 20 per cent did. Most (60 per cent), died in hospital, 20 per cent in care homes and 6 per cent in hospitalised.

More: People who have died and come back to life reveal what it is like

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