I’m currently reading Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying by Ram Dass. In it, he shares a passage written by Nadine Stair, an 85-year-old woman.
Having just celebrated a birthday yesterday, it really struck a chord.
Nadine wrote:
If I had my life to live over, I’d like to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax. I’d limber up. I’d be sillier than I’ve been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I’d take more chances. I’d climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I’d eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who lived 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, a hot water bottle, a rain coat, and a parachute. If I had it to do again I’d travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I’d start barefoot earlier in the spring, stay that way later in the fall. I’d go to more dances. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daisies. I would live each moment more.
Living ahead of each day and imaginary troubles? It’s like Ms. Stair was writing about me, though in truth, she’s writing about most of us. I can see why Ram Dass said that he always keeps this passage nearby. I plan to do the same.