[blockquote source=”Kurt Vonnegut”]“Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been.”[/blockquote]

I volunteer at a local retirement home.

Not that I am much of any help of all, but…I do make for quite good company. And, always I bring the Sunday news with a basket of my very best homemade treats.

I know my place.

Likewise, I consider it an honor to basque in the glory of the ‘good old days’ with some of humanity’s finest.

I’m a good listener, too – instinctively knowing the best places to nod, and when to keep my mouth hushed, too.

Oh, and I’ve heard the most wondrous tales – of love and life’s adventures, and ‘a thing or two I’ve learned, you know.’

And in all those hours, never once a complaint – not ever a, ‘my body aches’ or a snarly “I hate this place.” In fact, I dare say the only words that have come close are the somber reflections of, “Darling, I wish I had…”

“I wish I’d gone after that girl…”

“I wish I’d had the strength…”

“I wish I’d known full well back then, that which I know right now..”

Each day I cozy up to my keyboard, thoughtfully considering what little bits of wisdom I might share. And always, it’s granted to me by the grace of these moments – these moments of open-hearted listening.

“I wish I had…”

Life is short, my dears. And yet, we spend our days doting over the past we wished we had – finding always the silliest of excuses to move farther away from that which we love most of all.

And, so, what advice might I share on this day?

My darlings, please don’t waste this precious human life on all those, “I wish I had”s.

So, why not make today the day you move closer to all those little things that make your heart smile BIG?

The great adventures…

The fearless explorations…

And all of those life-long dreams…