“Be brave and take risks… You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward.” Roy Bennett
When asked “How would you have lived your life differently if you had a chance?” Nadine Stair, an 85-year-old woman, from Louisville, Kentucky, provided these poetic words as her response.
If I had my life to live over again,
I’d dare 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 would take more chances,
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones.
you see, I’m one of those people who was sensible and sane,
hour after hour,
day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments.
If I had to do it 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 people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I could do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had to live my life 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.
– Nadine Stair
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
I see myself in this poem, it’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing. :o)
Yes I think we can all see ourselves here. Thankyou. 🙏🏻
Beautiful!
Thankyou Nico 🌻
Familiar thoughts beautifully expressed! I hope we have some ice cream left in the freezer 😉
Yum! Enjoy this beautiful day Helen 💚
All good thoughts. I agree.
Thankyou Lisa 🙏🏻
I think I need to watch more sunsets and visit the ocean more than once a year!
Oh yes indeed! I’m off to the beach today, I would live there if I could. Thankyou Eliza. 💚
Enjoy your beach day!
Wow. Great.
It is! Let’s live fully 😎
I love these wise words.
I do too, Thankyou 🙏🏻
There are words like this that seep with wisdom, and we’d be foolish not to heed its advice.
I agree Randall. I don’t want to wish I had a different life at 85yrs. Each moment counts. 🌻
Beautiful…
It is. Thankyou Sawsan. 💚
Love this. Why are we so much wiser when time is running out?
So true Jennifer. I guess because when we are young we still believe we have all the time in the world! 💚
I love the way people who know their time is limited get really free. Free in a way we probably all could be but don’t claim. They live THEIR life, no one else’s. Beautiful post!
I’m trying to learn all this in between now and 85!! Thanks Kristine 💚
Really beautiful, Karen 🙂
We need to live more in the moment and do, what ever make us happy. Then we have no regrets later.
So true Irene 💚
I love this poem too! Coincidentally I shared it as a centering practice on a workshop I lead on Sunday. It is such an inspiration for peeps to take risks and make mistakes … and have fun. The workshop was a blast 😎
Thank you for sharing here! xo
What a coincidence! I’m glad your workshop was a blast and this poem certainly reminds us to live fully. 😍
I don’t go a week without copious amounts of both ice cream and beans, but I think I’m guilty of the rest. Too uptight, never taking chances. So hard to be in the moment.
I’m guilty of this too! It’s a practice for sure and these reminders help us all to live a fuller life 🙏🏻
I’ve seen this brilliant women’s wisdom before – and it’s always a refreshing and empowering reminder about how to live for today! Thank you, Karen!
Yes she is a great reminder, not to wait until we are 85 with regrets!! Thanks Vicki 💚
A amazing poetry and I agree.
“I would go to more dances,
I would ride more merry-go-rounds,
I would pick more daisies.”
Old age is with me. I have learnt to slow down and enjoy the simple gifts. More dancing, more time at the forest and the parks. Slow down and see the flowers and enjoy the new day.
Beautiful! Thanks John 🙏🏻
You are welcome my friend.
Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Please read the amazing poetry by a talented writer.
Thankyou for sharing 🙏🏻
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
Obrigado! 🙏🏻