Twice

by Mitch Albom

When we’re young, we want to satisfy every desire. When we’re old, our greatest desire is to not die alone.

There are years you think about for moments, and moments you think about for years.

I’ve noticed something about dying, Boss. When you come into this world, you have all these people who want to take care of you, and you don’t know any of them. Then, when you’re leaving this world, you have all these people you do know, but few of them want to be bothered.

“At some point, you get tired of reliving the past. You’re ready for what comes next.”

When you realize you are about to lose a parent, you suddenly want to know everything, say everything, share every little detail you omitted during the years when you were taking them for granted.

But I have already made my case about moments: how you forget so many over a lifetime, yet a lifetime can turn on a single one.

Sadly, when you lose yourself, you don’t realize who else you’re losing, too.

If you change your mind, your first love will never love you again.