Though it might seem like a somber subject, Julie has observed the profound ability of the human body to transition naturally at the end of life, finding beauty in the process. Her aim is to educate the public about the naturalness of dying, emphasizing that it is not something to fear.
Julie has garnered a substantial following exceeding 1.5 million on TikTok, where she shares her experiences and thoughts on death and dying. Earlier this year, she appeared on businessman and author Rob Moore’s podcast, ‘Disruptors,’ to further discuss these topics.
During the podcast episode released on July 15, Julie recounted witnessing ‘hundreds’ of deaths over her career, which includes time spent in an Intensive Care Unit before transitioning to hospice care.
Her experiences have provided her with rare insights into the end-of-life process, revealing two common regrets people have.
In her conversation with Moore, Julie shared that one of the common regrets people express is having spent too much time working, a sentiment that resonates despite the financial obligations many face.
The second, more prevalent, regret concerns an aspect of life where individuals have more control.
Julie elaborated: “The main thing people say, that I don’t hear a lot of people mention, is ‘I wish I would have appreciated my health’.”
Good health often goes unnoticed until illness strikes, whether it be a minor ailment or a more severe condition, making individuals yearn for their former well-being.
Witnessing this on a significant scale, Julie has been inspired by her patients to practice gratitude. She maintains a nightly ‘gratitude list’ to remind herself of the everyday blessings and things she is thankful for.
She said, “I like the fact that I can breathe, I’m walking around, I can feel the sunshine – little things like that.”
“I think the biggest thing I hear from people [who are] dying is that they wish they would have appreciated how well they felt before,” she noted.
Julie is vocal about sharing her experiences with death because she believes it is important for people to understand the dying process before facing it with a loved one or personally.