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"If I Had My Life to Live Over"
Being an ARDS patient or a friend or family member of one who is suffering from ARDS places our emotions in the front seat (the scary seat) of a roller coaster ride. There will be times in the coming days and weeks when we might want to shout "Stop! I need a rest," or "I don't want to do this anymore." We would give much to be able to go through just one day without thinking about health issues or asking ourselves over and over again the "what if" questions that lead nowhere. Just the other day the following message came through my mailbox, sent to me by a friend. It is the best answer to "what if" I have ever seen. I wish I had seen its message and acted upon it years ago, before I contracted ARDS, so I choose to share it with you in Body Mind and Spirit and hope that it speaks to you as it has to me.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER."
(By ERMA BOMBECK)
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the
carpet was stained and 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 burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose
before it melted in storage.
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 have gone to bed when I was sick instead of
pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if
I wasn't there for the day.
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 realizing 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" and
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.
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