The following piece was written by an eighty-five old man who learned that he was dying. It is particularly relevant.
“If I have my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I wouldn’t be so perfect. I would relax more. I ‘d limber up. I’d be sillier that I’ve been on this trip. In fact, i know very few things that I would take so seriously. I ‘d be crazier. I ‘d be less hygienic.
” I ‘d take more chances, I ‘d take more trips, I’d climb more mountains, I ‘d swim more rivers,
I’d go more places I’ve never been to. I’d eat more ice cream and few beans.
“I’d have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones!
“You see, I was one of those people who lived prophylactic and sensibly and sanely hour
after hour and day after day. Oh, I’ve had moments -moment by moment by moment.
“I’ve been one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer , a hot water bottle , a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do all over again, I ‘d travel lighter next time.
“If I had it to do all over again. I ‘d start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay way later in the fall. I ‘d ride more merry-go-rounds, I ‘d watch more sunrises, and I’d play with more children,
if I had my life to live over again.
“But you see, I don’t”
Isn’t this message a beautiful reminder?
We only have so long on this planet. Let’s make the most of it. The old man realised that, in order to be happier, in order to get more out of life, he didn’t have to go and change the world. The world is already beautiful. He had to change himself.
Henry Chan
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