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| If ... |
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| I had my life to live over again, |
| I'd try to make more mistakes. |
| Next time, |
| I would relax, |
| I would limber up. |
| I would be crazier than |
| I've been on this trip. |
| I know very few things |
| I'd take seriously any more. |
| I would take more chances, |
| I would take more trips, |
| I would scale more mountains, |
| I would swim more rivers, |
| and I would watch more sunsets. |
| I would eat more ice cream! |
| - and fewer beans. |
| I would have more actual troubles |
| and fewer imaginary ones. |
| You see I was one of those people |
| Who lived prophylactically, |
| Sensibly and sanely, |
| Hour after hour |
| and day after day. |
| Oh, I've had my moments, |
| and if I had to do it all over again, |
| I'd have many more of them! |
| In fact, I'd try not to have anything else: |
| Just moments, |
| One after another, |
| Instead of living so many years |
| Ahead of my day. |
| 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, |
| Much lighter than I have. |
| I would start barefoot earlier in the Spring, |
| And stay that way later in the Fall. |
| I would ride more merry-go-rounds, |
| And catch more gold rings, |
| And greet more people, |
| And pick more flowers, |
| And dance more often ... |
| If I had it to do all over again. |
| But you see - |
| I don't. |
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| from "Journal of Humanistic Psychology" |
| written by an 82-year-old man |
| dying and accepting death |
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