live life to the fullest

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
(By
Erma Bombeck) – with additions by Moira
McArthur 27.11.05

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

Well,
I don’t know about you but as you get past your forties you
kinda get into the way of saying take me as I am. We can always eat
out if you’re paying.

Memo
– Dull women have immaculate homes.

I
would have eaten popcorn in the GOOD living room and worried much
less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the
fireplace.

My
mum used to have a living room and a drawing room. At first only
visitors ie older relatives would be entertained there but was
gradually taken for space to lay out my brother’s train set and
store dad’s records and became a room for us to use when my
Grandpa wanted to watch the TV.

It
was a cheery room to sit in with its big bay window to watch for the
fox that went by at 4 pm (on the dot – must have had a watch)
in winter.

Memo
– Rooms are for living in and most families make a mess. No-one
ever won a prize for best kept living room.

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

Fortunately
I did and can remember stories about him and his cronies following
the water cart on warm days to put their bare feet under the drips.
How they used to hop on and off moving drays. How my own dad started
working life doing a mail run to the hilltop farms before school and
going around with the pig lorry to pick up scraps after school.

His
last job before retiral? A Director of the Clydesdale Bank.

Memo
- Before you get ahead in life, you have to start at the bottom.

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
have always said hang the hairstyle and when I had my Vitara I
usually had the roof packed away. Known as a ‘hairdresser’s
car’ I must have looked a failed hairdresser!! When I had the
Megane CC on loan I drove along Barrhead Main Street at 11.30 pm with
the roof down and the stereo blasting out.

Memo
– Always get the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

I
would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it
melted in storage. OK I’ve tried that
one. My little candle produced such a big flame it threatened to set
fire to something. Regretfully put it out – it took a while and the
house smelled of wax and scorched worktop.

Memo
– Just because it has a wick sticking out this doesn’t
mean it’s a useable candle. Don’t take things at face
value!

I
would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about the
grass stains. I did sit on the grass and I let
‘Bold 2 in 1’ take care of the grass stains. I got kidded
by some of the other mum’s but hey ho I and my kids have a lot
of good memories.

Memo
- To understand children you have to get down to their level. Not in
childishness, mind, but in height. Sitting on the ground is often the
best way.

I
would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more
while watching life. Ok I watch TV but I don’t
feel guilty because it doesn’t take up all my time. Usually I’m
on the web enriching my life experience by looking at faraway places,
learning about the universe, reading bad jokes to send to faraway
friends.

Memo
– Keeping the brain active is good whether you watch TV or surf
the internet. Plus if you are really into what is happening on the TV
it keeps you away from the kitchen munchies.

I
would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the
earth would go into a holding pattern if I wasn’t there for the
day. Mmm.. We’re all guilty on that one.
But hey, when I broke the leg – the world did go on and Chrissy’s
wedding plans went forth without my interfering tuppence worth!

Memo
– You don’t have to be on duty 24-7 for the world and his
wife. Let others take the reins now and then.

I
would never have bought anything just because it was practical,
wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. One
of the girls I work with expressed surprise that I was looking to buy
a convertible again. “But it’s so impractical”, she
said. I think she was missing the point and although I know she is
happy in life I can’t help but wonder why everything has to be
practical all the time.

All
my hoarded junk is impractical, my cups don’t stack and my
clothes are light colours and usually wear out after a couple of
months washing.

OK,
I confess, I buy Matalan and Asda and they shrink before they wear
out and not everyone wants to see my bellybutton so they hibernate in
the back of my wardrobe (the clothes not the people not wanting to
see etc.) waiting for the day I lose a ton of pounds and might fit
them again.
Memo
– It’s your money, buy what you want.

Instead
of wishing away the nine months of pregnancy, I’d have
cherished every moment realizing that
the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to
assist God in a miracle. I was astonished
every day and would inwardly point things out from the bus to little
Mac in my humungus bump of 1977 (in which I felt a large bloke was
honing his footie skills but actually turned out to be a darling
daughter turning somersaults and, in the end, sitting cross-legged
like a little leprechaun on the X-ray and totally the wrong way up
for me to give birth the natural way!)
Memo – if you have forgotten
the joys of pregnancy then look at what you produced. If
it’s not a pretty sight, look on the bright side – At
some point it’ll leave home to make its own way out into the
world.

When
my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later,
now go and get washed up for dinner.”

I
liked my kids impetuous kisses but sometimes washing hands is good.
Earthworms and tadpoles are not good dinner companions.

Memo
– Love impetuosity. Expect the unexpected.

There
would have been more “I Love You’s” and 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. You
have to experience life to come up with the host of items we women
often imagine we have forgotten to do. Guess its an imperfect world
and if we’ve missed doing some things then we were filling our
lives with something else.

Memo
- We’ve all had unhappy times and happy times and if we only
just dig deeper into ourselves, we’d realise we’d not
made too much of a hash of life.

Here
is an angel sent to watch over you. I’d
like to think an angel is watching over my friends too. But I’d
prefer to think of them taking all the ‘guilt baggage’
they’ve carried around for years and dumping it off for good.

Imagined
guilt is added to by schmaltzy e-mails. Sure, I never got around to
taking my kids to Disneyland but they still talk about our shoestring
holidays – out of season in a Highland glen with water from the
stream and stories at bedtime.
Memo
– Spend more time looking back at the things you did, that you
accomplished. Let go of everything else. It doesn’t deserve a
space in your precious memories bank.

Pass
this onto anyone you like.

I came across this list a few years ago and added my own feelings at the time. I’d like to share them with you. The original wording by Ms Bombeck is in black type.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
(By Erma Bombeck) – with additions by Moira McArthur 27.11.05

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
%{color:blue}%Well, I don’t know about you but as you get past your forties you kinda get into the way of saying take me as I am. We can always eat out if you’re paying.
Memo – Dull women have immaculate homes.%

I would have eaten popcorn in the GOOD living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
My mum used to have a living room and a drawing room. At first only visitors ie older relatives would be entertained there but was gradually taken for space to lay out my brother’s train set and store dad’s records and became a room for us to use when my Grandpa wanted to watch the TV.
It was a cheery room to sit in with its big bay window to watch for the fox that went by at 4 pm (on the dot – must have had a watch) in winter.
Memo – Rooms are for living in and most families make a mess. No-one ever won a prize for best kept living room.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
Fortunately I did and can remember stories about him and his cronies following the water cart on warm days to put their bare feet under the drips. How they used to hop on and off moving drays. How my own dad started working life doing a mail run to the hilltop farms before school and going around with the pig lorry to pick up scraps after school.
His last job before retiral? A Director of the Clydesdale Bank.
Memo – Before you get ahead in life, you have to start at the bottom.

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 have always said hang the hairstyle and when I had my Vitara I usually had the roof packed away. Known as a ‘hairdresser’s car’ I must have looked a failed hairdresser!! When I had the Megane CC on loan I drove along Barrhead Main Street at 11.30 pm with the roof down and the stereo blasting out.
Memo – Always get the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. OK I’ve tried that one. My little candle produced such a big flame it threatened to set fire to something. Regretfully put it out – it took a while and the house smelled of wax and scorched worktop.
Memo – Just because it has a wick sticking out this doesn’t mean it’s a useable candle. Don’t take things at face value!

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about the grass stains. I did sit on the grass and I let ‘Bold 2 in 1’ take care of the grass stains. I got kidded by some of the other mum’s but hey ho I and my kids have a lot of good memories.
Memo – To understand children you have to get down to their level. Not in childishness, mind, but in height. Sitting on the ground is often the best way.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. Ok I watch TV but I don’t feel guilty because it doesn’t take up all my time. Usually I’m on the web enriching my life experience by looking at faraway places, learning about the universe, reading bad jokes to send to faraway friends.
Memo – Keeping the brain active is good whether you watch TV or surf the internet. Plus if you are really into what is happening on the TV it keeps you away from the kitchen munchies.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I wasn’t there for the day. Mmm.. We’re all guilty on that one. But hey, when I broke the leg – the world did go on and Chrissy’s wedding plans went forth without my interfering tuppence worth!
Memo – You don’t have to be on duty 24-7 for the world and his wife. Let others take the reins now and then.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. One of the girls I work with expressed surprise that I was looking to buy a convertible again. “But it’s so impractical”, she said. I think she was missing the point and although I know she is happy in life I can’t help but wonder why everything has to be practical all the time.
All my hoarded junk is impractical, my cups don’t stack and my clothes are light colours and usually wear out after a couple of months washing.

OK, I confess, I buy Matalan and Asda and they shrink before they wear out and not everyone wants to see my bellybutton so they hibernate in the back of my wardrobe (the clothes not the people not wanting to see etc.) waiting for the day I lose a ton of pounds and might fit them again.
Memo – It’s your money, buy what you want.

Instead of wishing away the nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. I was astonished every day and would inwardly point things out from the bus to little Mac in my humungus bump of 1977 (in which I felt a large bloke was honing his footie skills but actually turned out to be a darling daughter turning somersaults and, in the end, sitting cross-legged like a little leprechaun on the X-ray and totally the wrong way up for me to give birth the natural way!) Memo – if you have forgotten the joys of pregnancy then look at what you produced. If it’s not a pretty sight, look on the bright side – At some point it’ll leave home to make its own way out into the world.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later, now go and get washed up for dinner.”
I liked my kids impetuous kisses but sometimes washing hands is good. Earthworms and tadpoles are not good dinner companions.
Memo – Love impetuosity. Expect the unexpected.

There would have been more “I Love You’s” and 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. You have to experience life to come up with the host of items we women often imagine we have forgotten to do. Guess its an imperfect world and if we’ve missed doing some things then we were filling our lives with something else.
Memo – We’ve all had unhappy times and happy times and if we only just dig deeper into ourselves, we’d realise we’d not made too much of a hash of life.

Here is an angel sent to watch over you. I’d like to think an angel is watching over my friends too. But I’d prefer to think of them taking all the ‘guilt baggage’ they’ve carried around for years and dumping it off for good.

Imagined guilt is added to by schmaltzy e-mails. Sure, I never got around to taking my kids to Disneyland but they still talk about our shoestring holidays – out of season in a Highland glen with water from the stream and stories at bedtime.
Memo – Spend more time looking back at the things you did, that you accomplished. Let go of everything else. It doesn’t deserve a space in your precious memories bank.

Pass this onto anyone you like.

never wait to live life to the fullest!

Sometimes I’m not sure if I could ever actually live my life to the fullest. I’m actually not even sure if it is attainable at this point. But one thing I’ve learned recently, with the help of my sister, is that your life can be full if you just learn to live it. . . to live and be and do what you want. Obstacles are always put in front of us not to discourage but to make us appreciate everything so much more.

Time is such a fragile thing and if you don’t learn to break barriers or bad habits or learn to love again then you’re just living the same moments over and over again. I can’t live feeling hopeless or lost anymore because in doing so I’ve wasted so much time. Time that I could have used doing all of the things I’ve always wanted or going places I’ve always dreamed of. . . nothing’s ever too far out of reach and if it is then ask for a hand.

So, am I worried about living life to it’s fullest, or is it really one of my 43 things that I have to accomplish?? No. It’s something that I will realize one day when I look down at my hands and see how much these hands have done in a lifetime…I’ll look in the mirror and see how many smiles and tears it took for me to know that face….and I’ll know then that my life was lived to the fullest because I would have never made it to that point that day. As for now, I’m just worried about being me, in it’s entirety.

yes i want to live my life to the fullest, i am at that age, that i have to enjoy my friends , my husband, my grandkids & just to have great people around in my life, and to be happy!
casey

I believe i’ve started living life to the fullestby realizing that life’s too boring to live the same day twice. Try something new, sit in a different seat or take a different way to school. Eat something new for lunch and do it with an old friend from high school. Little things like taking the time to smile at someone or the simple thank you to th person who held the door for you. Live life like you want to. In the end you are the one that it matters most too. I’m not quite there… but it’s a start.

More memories made.
Another long day where I managed to wake up much earlier than my usual 9 am. Once dressed, it was down to Starbucks where we sat with our coffees and read our books in complete and perfect peace.

Mobile phones in our pocket, we were secure in the knowledge that our family and friends would never think we were up that early, far less leaving the house for a Starbucks.

Three hours later we were home to shuffle our vehicles around. Picking up flask and sandwiches we hopped in the camper and headed for the coast. Good journey down parked up easily and mooched around Troon.

Found a good cafe where we had a Fish Tea. For those that don’t know, a Fish Tea consists of Fish and chips, cup of tea and a plate of buttered bread. Magic.

Then it was a walk around the quieter streets and down to the front. Many families out enjoying a rather blustery walk along the prom. We sat in a sheltered spot and watched a merganser dive a little way off the shoreline. Beautiful bird.

I want to live life to the fullest above all else. You know, dance like no ones watching and sing like no ones listening. The little things in life are the things that end up being your most important memories so hold on to them and never forget even the smallest detail. Don’t hold a grudge because you only have one life to live. Love what you do and who your with. Die knowing you accomplished your goals and helped others accomplish theirs. Don’t avoid your problems, solve them. Don’t avoid what you really want, hold onto it. Reach for the stars and live life without regrets. Life is to short to dwell on the past. Only move forward and never look back. It’s never to late to start over. Be the bigger person and stand up for what you belive in. Just remember, in the end it all comes down to the little things so make it count :)

Im just 17 and when I’ll finally be 18 I hope I’ll live life to the fullest. (btw the girl in the picture is my cousin and she’s a weirdo)

Doing this right now. Lots of coffee stops with other half. we take our books and just sit back and read. Leaving mobile phones at home we are in a retreat of our own.

Once home again, real life restarts. Phones ring off the hook and there seems a mountain of stuff to do. But, hey, we’re chilled enough to take it on.