If I had my life to live over

Every year, the 21st of October, I celebrate the life of my mother. She was born on this day, and eventhough she has passed away, it feels right to celebrate her precence in this world by surrounding myself with my own family in a day of happiness. When collecting her belongings from her office a few days after she died, I found this poem, and it describes my mom in a lot of sences. I want to share it, because it might help us all stop and think about life and that life is actually happening today, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but today. I know I need to remember that sometimes, when planning to far ahead, or worrying to much about the future. This is a poem to inspire thoughts on how to live a full and happy life. Hope you enjoy it too, it is written by an 85 year old wise woman named Nadine Stair, and I am also posting the Norwegian version of the poem.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
If I had my life to live over, I'd like to make more mistakes next time.

I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously.

I would take more chances.

I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual trouble, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I've had my moments, and 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 persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.

If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live 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.


OM JEG FIKK LEVE LIVET OM IGJEN
- av Nadine Stair på sitt dødsleie - 85 år

Om jeg fikk leve livet mitt om igjen
Jeg ville våge å gjøre flere feil neste gang
Jeg ville slappe av og ta det rolig
Jeg ville være mer gal enn jeg har vært i dette livet
Jeg ville ta færre saker på alvor
Jeg ville bestige flere fjell og svømme i flere elver
Jeg ville spise mer is og mindre potet

Jeg ville kanskje ha flere virkelige problemer,men færre innbilte

For jeg er en av dem som lever fornuftig og klokt time etter time, dag etter dag

Visst har jeg hatt mine øyeblikk, men om jeg fikk leve om igjen, ville jeg ha flere

Jeg ville faktisk forsøke å ha bare nye øyeblikk, det ene etter det andre, i stedet for å planlegge så mange år i forveien, hver dag

Jeg er ett av de mennesker som aldri drar noe sted uten å ta med termometer, varmeflaske,regnfrakk og fallskjerm

Om jeg fikk leve livet om igjen, ville jeg reise med mindre bagasje
Jeg ville begynne å gå barfot tidligere om våren og fortsette til sent på høsten
Jeg ville danse mer
Jeg ville kjøre mer karusell
Jeg ville plukke mer blomster