“For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, ’It might have been’.”
John Greenleaf Whittier
There is a real condition from which a substantial amount of men and women who have reached the age of 60 or over, have been known to suffer. This is perfectly understandable. I have talked about this in the past. The only way we have reached this age is usually because we have kept our eyes open. We have seen the pit falls of others mistakes. “LOOK OUT!” WATCH OUT” “DON’T SMOKE” “SLOW DOWN” “WEAR YOUR SEATBELT” “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE” “WATCH OUT FOR FALLING ROCKS” “DEER CROSSING” “DON’T FEED THE ANIMALS” “STAY SEATED UNTIL THE PLANE COMES TO A COMPETE STOP” “FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTS” “DON’T MOVE AROUND IN THE CABIN UNTIL THE GREEN LIGHT GOES ON” “HAZARD” “READ THE DIRECTIONS CARFULLY BEFORE USE” “LIVE WIRES”
Okay we get it. WE GET IT! We have to watch out all of the time to stay alive and to stay safe and when we aren’t worrying about ourselves we are worrying about everyone else and this includes, family, friends and pets… even strangers. I worry about the friends on Facebook and their families. I spent the last few weeks worrying about the fires where my son lives and the little boys on a soccer team stuck in a cave in the dark on the other side of the world. We learn to be careful in everything we do. The trouble is sometimes as we age we have seen so much danger and hardships that we forget to step out of our cocoon. After sixty this gets harder and harder to do. So frankly, this is one other thing to worry about. If we are too set in our ways or too comfortable or too careful we are liable to miss a lot of great things going on that might make our lives into something really wonderful. We might just miss life while we are trying to stay alive.
In the past, I was really afraid of everything but there was always something in my inner soul that would force me to push myself to do things that were not easy for me to do. I would force myself to take a running leap and jump off that cliff. I might make it and really have a great adventure or I might jump and fall flat on my fanny and have a terrible black and blue mark that would mark me for life. Unfortunately, that’s life. If we don’t take those chances we might not really have a life that is worth living.
Looking back on my life I truly only regret the things that I didn’t do. The chance I didn’t take. The thing I didn’t say. The trip I didn’t take. The question I was too afraid to ask. The fling I could have had flung, but was too afraid of the consequence. WHY? I was afraid of what??? Getting hurt?? I got hurt anyway? Being embarrassed??? I’ve been embarrassed anyway. Looking foolish? I’ve looked foolish anyway. Losing your heart? I lost it anyway.
If you are sixty you are either at the end or near the end of your life or, let’s give us the very best scenario and say you live to be 100. This is still the last part of your life. What are you waiting for anyway? See that woman over there? She is nice and fun to talk to and she is nice looking. Are you single? Listen guys, why not ask her out? If she says no, what difference does it make? You tried … don’t stop there … try again if you see someone else that you kind of like next week. Someone might just say yes and you might have the time of your life? Who knows? Take that leap. Let’s not be so careful that we miss out on the new possibilities. It’s not over yet.
Ladies, every-once-in-awhile say, “YES” What if he might be worth your interest? Why miss out? There is still time. Not as much time as there was before, which means … what in the world are you waiting for? We all know what is ahead of us, so for heavens sake, take a few chances.
Make that move. Go on that trip. Take that class. Get another degree. Learn French. Ask her out. Say yes. Buy a new outfit. Buy a new car. Pucker up and give him a big kiss. Adopt a pet. Paint that picture. Take dancing lessons. Another words try a new way of looking at things. Now is the time to throw being “too careful” away. Time is flying. So, GO FOR IT. SAY ‘NO!’ TO WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. Make it happen, NOW!
Until Next Week…
2 thoughts on “What Might Have Been”
William Hepburn
When I got divorced about 6 years ago, I promised myself I would say yes to everything I possibly could. Boy has it been fun.
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istheresexaftersixty
I’m so happy to hear that. It has been more difficult for me but I at least am recognizing that I have to say ,”Yes” more. I too am finding it can be fun. I am not shy in life but very shy dealing with relationships.
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