If I had my life to live over.

By Erma Bombeck

 

The following was written by Erma Bombeck who was a journalist and humor columnist writing mostly about suburban family life. She suffered from polycystic kidney disease and died days after receiving a kidney transplant.

 

 

If I had my life to live over. . .

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s.” More “I’m sorry’s.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.

Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.

We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

 

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It all goes back in the box!

 

The following is from Jerry Seinfeld, who wrote it a few years ago.

“To me, if life boiled down to one significant thing, it’s movement. To live is to keep moving. Unfortunately, this means that for the rest of our lives, we’re going to be looking for boxes. When you’re moving, your whole world is boxes.  That’s all you think about– boxes, where are the boxes?  You just wander down the street going in and out of stores.  ‘Are there boxes here? Have you seen any boxes?’ That’s all you think about.  “You could be at a funeral.  Everyone around you is mourning, crying, and you’re looking at the casket, ‘That’s a nice box. Anybody know where that guy got that box? When he’s done with it, you think I could get it? It’s got some nice handles on it. My stereo would fit right in there.” I mean that’s what death is, really, the last big move of your life.  The hearse is like the van. The pallbearers are your close friends, the only ones you could ask to help you with a big move like that.  And the casket is that great, perfect box you’ve been waiting for your whole life.” 

 

You can find the remainder of this post and  accompanying video in its entirety on Ordinary Miracle’s sister blog Rated JC

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