Times can be tough, and words of wisdom can be very insightful.
An 83-year-old woman wrote a letter to her friend Bertha, but itโs a letter that should be shared with everyone around the world. She wrote:
โDear Bertha,
Iโm reading more and dusting less.
Iโm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden.
Iโm spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.
Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure.
Iโm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
Iโm not โsavingโ anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.
Iโm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
โSomedayโ and โone of these daysโ are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If itโs worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
Iโm not sure what others wouldโve done had they known they wouldnโt be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends.
They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was. Iโm guessing; Iโll never know.
Itโs those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadnโt written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days.
Angry and sorry, that I didnโt tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them.
Iโm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special. Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.โ
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