If I die tomorrow...

If God, for a second, forgot what I have become

And granted me a little bit more of life,

I would use it to the best of my ability

I wouldn’t possibly, say everything that is in my mind,

But I would be more thoughtful of all I say,

I would give merit to things not for what they are worth,

But for what they mean to express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more,

Because I know that for every minute that we close our eyes,

We waste 60 seconds of light

I would walk while others stop;

I would awake while others sleep.

If God would give me a little bit more of life,

I would dress in a simple manner

I would place myself in front of the sun,

Leaving not only my body, but my soul naked at its mercy

To all men, I would say how mistaken they are

When they think that they stop falling in love when they grow old,

Without knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them

To learn how to fly by themselves

To old people, I would say that death

Doesn’t arrive when they grow old, but with forgetfulness

I have learned so much with you all,

I have learned that everybody wants to live on top of the mountain,

Without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken

And the form used to reach the top of the hill

I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with his little hand

His father’s finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.

I have learned that a man has the right

And obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the ground

Say always what you feel, not what you think

If I knew today is the last time that I am going to see you asleep,

I would hug you with all my strength

And I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say “I love you”

There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do things right

But in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me

I would love to tell you how much I love you and that I will never forget you

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old

Today could be the last time to see your love ones

Which is why you mustn’t wait; do it today,

In case tomorrow never arrives

I am sure you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile,

A hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish.

Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their faces

How much you need them and love them

Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them “I am sorry”, “Forgive me”

“Please”, “Thank you” and all those loving words you know

Nobody will know you for your secret thought

Ask the lord for wisdom and strength to express them

Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you

Send this letter to those you love

If you don’t do it today… tomorrow will be like yesterday

And if you never do it, it doesn’t matter either

The moment to do it is now

For you with much love,

Gabriel Garcia Marquez