I'm a 75 yr female with a heart condition. I'm also a Buddhist. So allow me to share my perspective.
I don't know if reincarnation is real or not, but I prefer to keep an open mind about it. It could be for real, but if consciousness doesn't continue after the death of the body, then all my problems are over.
But if mind/consciousness does continue, then mind is the only thing I take with me after death. The Tibetan Buddhists have a deeply intricate psychology of how the mind works that I won't bore you with here. Suffice it to say that the great classic Buddhist teachers have described absolute enlightened mind as without concepts, infinitely open, luminous, and aware. However, we mere mortals ain't there yet. We ain't enlightened. So after death, the mind desires to grasp at self and takes rebirth back here in samsara, suffering. Part of unenlightened mind contains a type of consciousness that is the repository of karma, intentions, memories, habitual thinking and point of view, negative emotions like anger, greed, jealousy, etc. And it also has the good karmic intentions to add value and benefit to the happiness of others, joy from living a morally ethical life, success in developing and using your natural skills and talents, faithfully keeping agreements -- all the good stuff from your life.
Depending on our how well we have purified our mind of negative emotions, selfish desires, harmful points of view (racism, misogyny, etc), we take rebirth in a more, or less, fortunate life.
That you have recognized that you made some serious and hurtful things earlier in life is a good thing. Especially if you regret them and are determined to make those same mistakes again, in this life of the next, assuming there is a next. In Buddhism, we take everything, good and bad, into our spiritual path. All our experience is available to teach us something. Everything begins with intention. You've stated that your intention is to be a better man in the time you have left. We all must start from where we are now. Bravo!
Best regards always
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