IF

 

Everyone knows the well read poem, "IF", written in 1910 by Rudyard Kipling - all in inspiring words around the small word, "IF". Men particularly seem to like the poem and give it as inspiration to their sons, and so it goes on ... "IF you can keep your head,".. .and ends... "you'll be a man, my son."

 

Such a little word, but the dictionary gives it as a condition, a supposition, and as a conjunction, on condition that, providing that, supposing that ... All the conditions rely on the little word, "IF".

 

Now, if you add "only" to "IF", if only, it suddenly becomes two of the most used expressions in the English language. If only I hadn't lost my temper. If only I'd said yes instead of no.

 

If only I had gone to see someone before it was too late.

 

All of us have "if only"s in our lives, and mean to improve. So I've made a promise to myself I'm going to say two different words. They are "I will" meaning I won't put off something until tomorrow or never, as the case may be.

 

I remember saying, "to love, cherish and obey" when I got married. My spouse says he can't remember me saying the "obey" bit! Well, I did say it, but maybe the obeying has gone a bit awry!

 

So here goes for Millennium Year. "If only" "I will" be able to keep my resolution! And stop talking about what I mean to do, and get on and do it!

 

Ann Latham