If I had my life to live over...

Erma Bombeck

Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no， but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have talked less and listened more.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been combed and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was dirty and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather talk about his youth.

I would have sat on the grass with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching TV... and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick， instead of pretending the Earth would go into a holding pattern if I werent there for a day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical/wouldnt show soil/ promised to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me， I would never have said， “Later. Now， go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more I love yous ... more Im sorrys ... more Im listenings ...

But mostly， if I had my life to live over， I would seize every minute， look at it and really see it，

live it and never give it back.

曾有人問我，如果有機會再活一次，我是否會讓生活做出一些改變……

我的回答是“不”，可是想想之后，我又有了不同的想法：

如果我能再活一次，我會少說多聽。

我決不會因為夏天頭發剛剛梳理過、噴過發膠，就一定要把車窗玻璃關起來。

我一定會邀請朋友共進晚餐，即使這會讓地毯弄臟，讓沙發褪色。

我會在精致的客廳里吃爆玉米花。我也不會操心有人在壁爐生火帶出灰塵。

我會花點時間聽爺爺講述他年輕時候的經歷。

我要和孩子們一起坐在草坪上，再不擔心身上會沾上草漬。

看電視我會少哭少笑一點，而觀察生活時我會多哭多笑一點。

我會更多地分擔我丈夫承擔的職責，而之前我認為這些事情他做是理所當然的。

生病的時候我就臥床休息，不會假裝自己一天不在，地球就會停止轉動。

買東西時我再也不會只看它實用、耐臟，或能保證用一輩子。

孩子們來親我時，我決不會說：“等等。先去洗手吃飯。”

我要更多地說“我愛你” “對不起” “我在聽”……

總之，如果我能再活一次，我要把握好每一分鐘，欣賞生活，真正地關注生活，去品味生活，且決不放棄生活。

范妍翻譯整理