If I Had My Life to Live Over . . .

for one or more “do-overs” — would I really want that?

These questions remind me of a book a friend recently passed along to me: If I had my life to live over, I would pick more daisies. It’s not a new book but the content is classic, timeless in its truth. Editor Sandra Martz crammed every page with amazing poems and stories written about things the authors might do differently if they had a Do-Over. The stories are rich, poignant and brave.

Memories and stories of things we might want to change are chock full of juicy story seeds, just waiting to sprout. Few topics can provide such fertile beds for spinning tales of truth like regrets, and few topics provide as much opportunity to spin our truth in any of several directions. One thing about the stories in this book that make them powerful for me is that the authors never say straight out that they regret their choices. They just tell the story leaving me room to consider my own reactions.

Some people hesitate to write simple stories, thinking they “should” be writing book-length memoirs. If you harbor such thoughts, be done with them! Find a copy of this book – quite likely it’s in your library – and experience the power of a simple story.

So, I ask first, what would you do differently if you had your life to live over? And also, would you want to have “do-overs”?

Write now: Think of some decision or action you regret and write the story. Take your time and rewrite it as many times as it takes to make it as powerful and poignant as it can be. You don’t have to show it to anyone, but write it as if you will. Who knows? You may change your mind, sooner or later.

Or, write an essay about your reasons to for wanting or not wanting “do-overs” on all or part of your life.