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.

曾有人问我，如果有机会再活一次，我是否会让生活做出一些改变……

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，我会少说多听。

我决不会因为夏天头发刚刚梳理过、喷过发胶，就一定要把车窗玻璃关起来。

我一定会邀请朋友共进晚餐，即使这会让地毯弄脏，让沙发褪色。

我會在精致的客厅里吃爆玉米花。我也不会操心有人在壁炉生火带出灰尘。

我会花点时间听爷爷讲述他年轻时候的经历。

我要和孩子们一起坐在草坪上，再不担心身上会沾上草渍。

看电视我会少哭少笑一点，而观察生活时我会多哭多笑一点。

我会更多地分担我丈夫承担的职责，而之前我认为这些事情他做是理所当然的。

生病的时候我就卧床休息，不会假装自己一天不在，地球就会停止转动。

买东西时我再也不会只看它实用、耐脏，或能保证用一辈子。

孩子们来亲我时，我决不会说：“等等。先去洗手吃饭。”

我要更多地说“我爱你” “对不起” “我在听”……

总之，如果我能再活一次，我要把握好每一分钟，欣赏生活，真正地关注生活，去品味生活，且决不放弃生活。

范妍翻译整理