O mais belo Apócrifo que Borges jamais escreveu

“Se eu pudesse viver novamente a minha vida, na próxima trataria de cometer mais erros, não tentaria ser tão perfeito, relaxaria mais. Seria mais tolo ainda do que tenho sido, na verdade bem poucas coisas levaria a sério, seria menos higiênico.

Correria mais riscos, viajaria mais, contemplaria mais entardeceres, subiria mais montanhas e nadaria mais rios. Iria a lugares onde nunca fui. Tomaria mais sorvete e menos lentilha, teria mais problemas reais e menos problemas imaginários.

Eu fui uma dessas pessoas que viveu sensata e produtivamente cada minuto de sua vida: claro que tive bons momentos. Porque, se não sabem, disso é feita a vida, só de momentos, não perca o agora. Eu era um desses que nunca ia a parte alguma sem um termômetro, uma bolsa de água quente, um guarda chuva e um paraquedas, se voltasse a viver, viajaria mais leve.

Se eu pudesse voltar a viver, começaria a andar descalço no começo da primavera e continuaria assim até o fim do outono. Daria mais voltas na minha rua, contemplaria mais amanheceres e brincaria com mais crianças, se tivesse outra vez uma vida pela frente. Mas, já viram, tenho 85 anos e sei que estou morrendo.”

Inspirado no texto de Don Harold

(segue abaixo parte do original publicado em Reader's Digest, Out. 1953)

If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things that I would take seriously. I would be less hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less bran.

I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles. You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it to do over again, I would have more of them - a lot more. I never go anywhere without a thermometer, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do over, I would travel lighter.

It may be too late to unteach an old dog old tricks, but perhaps a word from the unwise may be of benefit to a coming generation. It may help them to fall into some of the pitfalls I have avoided..

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted a little earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall. I would play hooky more. I would shoot more paper wads at my teachers. I would have more dogs. I would keep later hours. I'd have more sweethearts. I would fish more. I would go to more circuses. I would go to more dances. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I would be carefree as long as I could, or at least until I got some care- instead of having my cares in advance.

More errors are made solemnly than in fun. The rubs of family life come in moments of intense seriousness rather that in moments of light-heartedness. If nations - to magnify my point - declared international carnivals instead of international war, how much better that would be!

G.K. Chesterton once said, "A characteristic of the great saints is their power of levity. Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly. One 'settles down' into a sort of selfish seriousness; but one has to rise to a gay self-forgetfulness. A man falls into a 'brown study'; he reaches up at a blue sky."

In a world in which practically everybody else seems to be consecrated to the gravity of the situation, I would rise to glorify the levity of the situation. For I agree with Will Durant that "gaiety is wiser than wisdom."

I doubt, however, that I'll do much damage with my creed. The opposition is too strong. There are too many serious people trying to get everybody else to be too darned serious.