I'd Pick More Daisies

If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to

make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I would

limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this

trip. I know of very few things I would take

seriously. I would take more trips. I would climb

more mountains, swim more rivers and watch more

sunsets. I would do more walking and looking. I would

eat more ice-cream and less beans. I would have more

actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. You see, I

am one of those people who lives prophylactically and

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 each day. I

have been one of those people who never go anywhere

without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle,

a raincoat, aspirin and a parachute. If I had it to

do over again, I would go places, do things and

travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start

barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way

later in the fall. I would play hookey more, I

wouldn't make much good grades except by accident. I

would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more

daisies.

-- Brother Jeremiah

-- By an anonymous friar in a Nebraska monastery,

Quoted in "Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back" by

Charles Swindon, and in "The Three Boxes of Life (and how

to get out of them) - An introduction to life/work planning"

by Richard N. Bolles

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