erma bombeck

I am in major de-cluttering, organization mode lately----apparently, I am getting a jump on the whole "Spring Cleaning" thing?? I have been organizing the kid's art supplies in the laundry room (again!!), ordering photos to put into albums, and going through hundreds of pages that I have ripped out from magazines over the years. I will post pictures soon of the easy-peasy project I am making with all those magazine clippings, but I thought today I would share with you one of the pages I came across as I was going through my files. You have probably heard this before, it is a VERY popular and oft-quoted quote from Erma, but when I sat down to re-read it, I realized how much I needed to hear it again......maybe you do too???

If I Had My Life to Live Over - by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or 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 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 never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized 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." 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.