Nadine Stair – If I Had My Time Over Again Poem

Looking for the poem If I Had My Time Over Again by Nadine Stair? Here’s the poem by an 85 year old from Kentucky.

Let’s chat about the Nadine Stair poem: If I had my time over again.

Many years ago I came across this amazing poem, which was written by an 85 year old woman from Louisville Kentucky.

When asked the question “How would you live your life differently if you had a chance?” this here was Nadine Stair’s poetic response.

NADINE STAIR POEM

If I had my life to live over again,

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.

I’d relax,

I’d limber up.

I’d be sillier than I have been this trip.

I would take fewer things seriously.

I would take more chances.

I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who was sensible and sane,

Hour after hour,

Day after day.

Oh, I’ve had my moments.

And if I had to do it over again,

I’d have more of them.

In fact, I’d try to have nothing else,

Just moments,

One after another,

Instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere

Without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle,

a raincoat, and a parachute.

If I could do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had to live my life over,

I would start barefoot earlier in the spring

and stay that way later in the fall.

I would go to more dances,

I would ride more merry-go-rounds,

I would pick more daisies.

– Nadine Stair

When I first read this Nadine Stair poem, many years ago, it was long before I ever became a parent. Still a shiver ran down my spine when I sensed this lady’s regret. 

Even back then, as a young adult, I felt like my days could’ve been spent differently.

There were things I regretted not saying.

There were things I regretted not doing.

As time went on, I made my own fair share of mistakes.

And then one day I became a parent and the weight of expectation doubled and tripled in size.

I fussed and fretted about things that weren’t even that important.

I had dreams of my own that I still wasn’t chasing.

Which forces me to ask the same question:

What would I myself do differently if I had that time over?

This here is my response:

If I had to live my day over

I would treat each day as if it was a precious gift.

I would treasure every second of it.

I would listen less to others and more to myself.

I wouldn’t care what anyone else thinks.

I would put away the phone.

I would switch off the TV.

I wouldn’t let a day pass without cuddling my kids.

I would dance more, laugh more and sing more.

I would step outside my comfort zone and make those trips.

I would engage more with the world.

And make sure my actions matched my words.

I would let my family knew how much I loved them.

And tick things off my bucket list.

If I had to live my life over

I would walk to the beat of my own drum.

I would chase inner peace and happiness.

I would feel the fear and do things anyway.

I would take action today

Instead of waiting for a tomorrow that never comes.

All in all, I would try to always stay conscious of

How blessed we are just to be alive.

As a parent, time passes so quickly.

In a blink of an eye your baby becomes a toddler and then a pre-schooler.

Then before you know it that pre-schooler becomes a school student and they are graduating high school and off to college – it happens as quickly as that.

Time passes by so quickly, you don’t even realize it until it has already gone.

So my question to you is this:

What would you do if you had your time over?

Remember that your time isn’t over yet.

Do what you can now while you still have the opportunity to chase those dreams and make amends.

Frances Vidakovic

With a degree in psychology, Frances Vidakovic is a certified life coach, course creator and host of the Inspiring Life Podcast. Her superpower is transforming dreamers into doers, with simple, kick-up-the-butt strategies.