Recently
a friend of mine finished his time here on Earth. He lived his life
passionately investing himself in those things that mattered to him.
I wonder if I live my life as passionately as he did.
The
following thoughts come from Nadine Stair, which she wrote when she
was 85 years old.
"If
I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. 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 troubles,
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 have 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, hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I had to do it 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."
This
is it. Life! Right now!
"I have found life an enchanting, active and sometimes a terrifying
experience, and I've enjoyed it completely. A lament in one ear, maybe,
but always a song in the other." Sean O'Casey