A long free-verse poem about what a grandfather would change. |
His eighteen-year-old grandson asked the eighty-one-year-old grandpa what he would change if he could live his life over … what turned out to be more important to him than he had realized when he was a young man. The elderly man pondered a while. Finally he said, “I would appreciate my various family members more, not take them for granted simply because I know they will always be there for me throughout my life. They are such treasures that are sorely missed when they are gone. “I’d make the woman I loved and married feel appreciated as much as I possibly could, especially when things in our life got difficult. I’d hug her for longer with each embrace, kiss her more often, touch her with heartfelt affection throughout our day, and I’d tell her how much I love her every single day. I’d realize the time might come when I would stand beside her grave weeping and yearn for just that one more chance to show her how much she meant to me. “I’d cherish the first decade of each of my children’s life and realize how quickly these precious, golden years will pass, taking with them the opportunity for me to be a major influence on the adults my children will someday become. Those years all too soon slip away, becoming merely treasured memories. “I’d be more tolerant, more forgiving of others. I’d remember we all are members of the same human race. Time wasted with anger and grudges is time poorly spent. I’d be more helpful to others; this gift benefits both me and them. “I’d spend more time at the beach, hike more mountain paths, ride horses along wilderness trails, go white-water rafting on angry rivers, go camping in the desert southwest. In short, I’d avail myself throughout my life of Nature’s grandeur in its many varied forms. I’d travel at every opportunity presented. The world is wide, gorgeous, amazing, and well worth making the time to experience it as much as you can. “Finally, I’d try to live in such a way so that if one day my grandson asked me a question about what changes I’d make if I were to re-do my life, I could answer him with, ‘Nothing. My life was perfect. I wouldn’t want to change a thing.’” Please check out my ten books: http://www.amazon.com/Jr.-Harry-E.-Gilleland/e/B004SVLY02/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 |