4 Lessons Learned From Bob Dylan’s “If I Could Do Life Over Again”

Did I read the AP news report correctly? Bob Dylan said in an recent interview for AARP magazine that if he could do life over, he would be a teacher? This is stunning news to this avid fan of the 73 year old “Blowing in the Wind” icon. I’ve purchased more Dylan music than all other music artists combined.

History regards him as a true force of the 60’s scene. A little Googling reveals he has won many awards and been inducted into various Halls of Fame. Highlights include ten Grammys, a Golden Globe, and even an Academy Award. His music career has been spectacular.

“I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Bob Dylan

And now this. Looking back, he would trade it all to be a teacher? Really? I’m scratching my head trying to figure out what this means. What lessons can be learned from this Dylan revelation?

Here’s my list of 4 lessons learned by this news.

1. Everyone has regrets later in life. We often look at the rich and famous wishing we could trade places. “Wow,” we tell ourselves, “If I could live like that!” It never crossed my mind some of the rich and famous crowd might want to trade places with an ordinary guy like me. Maybe it’s time to reread The Prince and the Pauper while thinking about your life?
2. Your life is more wonderful than you realize. You might laugh out loud thinking your life is better than Bob Dylan’s. But isn’t it a matter of perspective? The work you do just might be far more significant than you imagine. Take a hard look at your life. Find something in it that is special; maybe unique. Celebrate. Find ways to believe that your life this moment really is a wonderful life.
3. Life is not all about fame and fortune. Who knew? I cannot fathom how much money Bob Dylan made across the decades of his career. And he still has immense popularity. And he would trade all of that to have lived on a teacher’s salary? He would jettison his world wide popularity to teach 30 kids in a classroom? Here’s a call for each of us to examine our priorities. Does your life focus on what really matters?
4. Choose carefully how you spend each day of your life. If you are young make sure you do work which lights your fire. If you are old, then be certain not to squander a single day. Each day is precious. There is no way to go back and recapture lost days. THIS moment is your life. Use it wisely. Live your life so that when you are 73 your regrets are few.

No matter how hard we try to stay young, age catches up with us. Squeeze every drop of life out of every day. Maybe that’s how you stay forever young?

“May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong, may you stay forever young.” Bob Dylan