An 85-year old patient looked back on her life and said,
“..God, if I had to live my life over, I would dare more mistakes next time. I would relax and ramble around and be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things so seriously and take more chances. I would take more trips and climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less prunes. (I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I sure would have fewer imaginary ones.)
You see, I am one of these people who have lived sensibly and safely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I would have more of them. In fact, I would try to have nothing else – just moments, one and another, instead of living so many years in a big chair acting like all of those persons who never go anywhere without a thermometer, hot water bottle, a raincoat, a parachute.
If I had to do it again, I would come lighter next time. If I had to live my life over I would start backwards, early in spring, instead of waiting until the autumn.
I would go to more dances, I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”
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Oh she is so right. Where’s the fun if we always have a parachute?
These are the words that helped me decide on the role in Africa and got me on the plane. And when I’m apprehensive of any change, I read them again and they put steel in my spine. They are posted on the wall of the office at home so read regularly. And when our garden is full of daisies because Craig is behind on cutting the grass, I smile.