Nana Wonders About Turning Back Time

In a recent survey over 2,000 Americans were asked to the following question, “If you could be richer, thinner, smarter, or younger, which would you choose?”

I had a cousin who always said “You can never be too rich or too thin.”  I wonder if she participated in this poll?

Looking at the results of the poll I can’t help but wonder a few things. Things like how many of the 44% who want to be richer would be willing to work more hours or get a second job? How many of them had just rather get food stamps or win the lottery? Wonder if they’ll do a survey about that?

And the 21% who want to be thinner, I wonder if they would be willing to exercise thirty minutes every day and give up soft drinks and chips? Hmmmm, now that might be hard! (No, don’t take my cheese cake!)

What about the 14% who want to be smarter? Would they be willing to take a couple of college classes or read the classics? Would they give up their sit-coms and ESPN in favor of  The History Channel or Discovery?

Finally, about the 12% who want to be younger. I can’t think of a single way to help them unless they are willing to consider plastic surgery.

There isn’t a way to turn back time  but if there was what would you change?

If life gave “do overs” what one thing would you want a second shot at?  Maybe a romance that didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to? Or maybe you didn’t go to college and you always wished you had? Maybe you only had one child and you wish you had two? (If so please come get one of mine….just kidding.)

I’m guessing Miss Philippines would like a second attempt at answering the question that probably cost her the Miss Universe title. (https://nanahood.com/nanas-advice-to-miss-universe)

I think perhaps Jesse Jackson wishes he could erase from memory the statement he made about President Obama a few years ago when he thought his microphone was turned off, but it wasn’t. I won’t repeat it, but you can read about it here. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128931647&ps=rs

Personally I would start my “do overs” with my high school years. Now that I’m a whole lot older and wiser, (okay, maybe just older) I know better than to be ashamed of my height. I wouldn’t be afraid of the guy who got pleasure from being a bully. I wouldn’t be upset when a certain teacher made a snide comment about my weight and another said something disrespectful about my parents. And that’s just for starters.

I would hug my dad and tell him at least once a day how much I loved him and how much I appreciated how hard he worked to support our family. I’d tell my mom how much I enjoyed her sense of humor and how much I admired her faith, courage and determination. I would have studied more in college and spent more time with my grandparents.

I would have prayed more and worried less.

Ahh, but youth is wasted on the young. Even Cher knows we can’t turn back time.

So I think I will just rejoice in the blessings of today, the gift of now and not worry too much about being richer, thinner, smarter or younger. That’s one of the best things about getting older you know, being at peace with who you are.