I confess that I have lived...

...it is the title of part of Pablo Neruda's work. I believe his poem is also called such, but I am uncertain, as I have recently had difficulty finding it. This poem profoundly impacted me at age 21, during my first semester of college, before the turn of the millennium. It was a time of significant change and self-discovery, and Neruda's words resonated deeply with me.

This poem is a testimony of the poet's life in which he expresses dissatisfaction with many of his behaviors and misbehaviors. At 83 years old, when writing this poem, Pablo seems to be missing something despite being successful in his career. John Maxwell also discusses this topic in one of his books, which is about people already in their golden years. They stated, John Maxwell says, that not doing what they would have liked the most, weighed on them most at this age.

Fortunately, I read Pablo Neruda's poem on time and took his words very seriously—so seriously that I would like to charge him for such advice. Specifically, he said that if he were to live again, he would be less calculating, take more risks, walk barefoot in the rain, talk to more people, and visit more places. I have been a little reckless myself in part because of Pablo.

The author wants to push us toward what he recognizes is within our reach so that our lives are filled with memorable events. He is putting up his dignity, showing his own mistake, so this does not happen to us—a valuable gesture. If at least one person pays attention to this legacy, it would be worth it to have it done. Voilà, Here I am, I made the gesture worthwhile for Don Pablo!

I have done it by being irresponsible enough and taking advantage of all the comfort my parents and life offered me. I studied what I wanted, where I wanted, worked in what I wanted, and dedicated myself to what I am most passionate about. I married someone I decided to marry, and have two beautiful children. I got divorced, have gone bankrupt in my ventures, and am still trying. I have learned tons of lessons in hard and soft areas of human behavior. Everything was my decision, and I have lived it intensely—a lot of learning and memorable moments.

At this point in my life, at 46 years old, I could also give you a message similar to Pablo Neruda's. A list of suggestions of what not to do in life! Of course, with one huge difference, all those experiences have been memorable. They have filled my life with intangible wealth- the richness of diverse experiences, the depth of understanding, and the breadth of empathy. These have given me a lot of happiness- the joy of living fully, the satisfaction of overcoming challenges, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing I've lived without regret. None of those experiences comes with any reproach. Well, I have to confess here one thing. I only regret one thing: when I was 16 years old, I did not dare to tell a beautiful girl in High School in Kansas that I liked her. This was during my exchange student year.

Now, at 46, I have about half of my life left to live, and I CONFESS TO YOU THAT I HAVE LIVED, just like Pablo suggested. I have been preparing for some changes in the second half of my life. These changes involve a shift towards a life with a little less risk and a little more stability. Before, I was fine with a roller coaster-style life, but today I am more looking for a cruise-style trip. Of course, I want to continue traveling, meeting, learning, and taking some risks. That is my DNA. But that is just me. What do you think this means for you?