Santa Clara Meditation Book – Try The Life You Want
This poem is called “Present Tense” by Jason Lehman.
It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth, and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom, and the respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth, and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.
When we reach the end of our lives, there’s something that we suffer from the most: the regret of not even having tried at all. We regret not reconciling with someone, forgiving someone, telling the other person how much we love them, or giving. Our life was an effort but not an achievement.
As I thought about it, I suddenly realized there is not much time left this year. How about trying something you haven’t tried, right now?
