One entry that the author shared, which I found deeply prophetic at this point in my life, is the following by an 85-year-old woman, Nadine Stair. I hope that this resonates with a few of you as well.
If I had my life to live over, I’d like to make more mistakes next time.
I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual trouble, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I’d have more of them.
In fact, I’d try to having nothing else.
Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.
It is one thing to read this quote and to give it some thought, it is quite another to put it into action. And yet....I am considerably younger than Ms. Stair and I would like to hope that my mind and my heart would be open enough to take these wise words of wisdom and apply them to my life today, rather than wait until it is too late and say, "If only I had more time...."
'Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.'
ReplyDeleteMy favourite line in the passage, and something I used to do so often. Over the last couple of years I have become more a 'live for the day' type of person.
You have given me such wonderful books to find this week.
how beautiful! i will play in the rain more!!! and jump in puddles!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of like the difference between parents and grandparents. My folks have so much more fun with my kids than I do (and I sure don't remember them having so much fun with us when we were kids). I asked them about that and they told me that with grandkids, you don't have all that weight of responsibility (to raise them right, instill the right values and morals, keep them on schedules, etc) that they had when they were just parents. Being a grandparent freed them up to be silly, live in the moment and just love.
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong for me to be jealous of that, LOL? But I am. I would love be that way with my kids, but jeepers, we only get one shot at this and I'm terribly afraid they'd turn out to be spoiled, undisciplined, nasty little brats. Just doesn't seem to be worth the chance.
So here's my plan: one day a week will be silly and fun day with the kids. No yelling, no timeouts, no eating a good breakfast, pick-up-your-toys-or-I'll-spank-you.
Think it will work?
Thanks for sharing the quote. This is how I am living my life now that I have passed 45. I just woke up one day and decided that life is too short to not enjoy it more or to worry about little things. I love these posts you are doing this summer!
ReplyDeleteI really really love this, and I think it is never to early to put this kind of advice into action.
ReplyDelete