Posted by Terry S. (24.24.79.45) on June 19, 2000 at 13:58:53:
IF YOU HAD IT TO DO OVER
One woman announced: "I intend to live forever! So far so
good..." But the length of our lives is not the real issue; it's
the quality and meaning that matter. Not the years in a life, but
the life in the years.
I like the spirit of Leo Buscaglia. When asked what he wanted to
be remembered for when is life was over he replied: "I want to be
remembered as somebody who lived life fully and with passion.
I've been asked to write my epitaph and I have always thought
that the perfect one for my tombstone would be, 'Here lies Leo
who died living.'"
I want to die living. And I want to be remembered as one who
lived with purpose, joy and verve. I want to spend my time
learning what goes into a whole and happy life, then building
that life the best I can.
Sociologist Tony Campolo told about a study in which fifty people
over the age of ninety were asked to reflect upon their lives.
"If you had it to do over again," they were asked, "what would
you do differently?" There was a multiplicity of answers, but
three responses dominated. Here they are.
First, many respondents answered, "I would reflect more." Do you
ever feel that too much time is spent in "doing," and not enough
spent thinking about WHAT you are doing and WHY you are doing it?
Second, they said, "I would risk more." Do you think that
important opportunities either have been or might be forfeited
because of your fear to take a necessary risk?
Finally, they said, "I would do more things that would live on
after I died." Do you feel that you are immersed in something
bigger and more enduring than your own existence?
Reflect more. Risk more. Leave a legacy. These are what our
elders say they would do differently the second time around.
But why wait for a second time around? Every new day is a second
chance! Reflect more today -- it will reveal to you what is truly
important. Risk more today -- take a chance on making that dream
come alive. Get involved with something that makes a difference
in this world -- and a beautiful legacy is what you will leave
behind.
Like Leo Buscaglia, I want to live fully and with passion. And if
all my plans don't work out as I had hoped, I'm still betting
that I will have more fun!