It’s a warm summer evening.

You’ve dressed up in your fanciest attire.

The sidewalk is packed with eager spectators.

Everyone is ready for the show.

***

Imagine you were given a front row seat to a showcase of your entire life. Each and every one of your experiences documented, reviewable, shared with the world.

Imagine you had the chance to rewatch your life. What would it be like?

***

Some scenes will make you smile: a favorite birthday, a setting sun, a memorable date.

Some will make you cry: the loss of a loved one, a final goodbye, a stinging failure.

Others may make you cringe: a bad haircut, an embarrassing fashion trend, a failed pickup line.

Still others could make you sentimental: a childhood toy, a fantastic vacation, a former lover.

***

You are sitting in the theater, watching your entire life play out before your eyes. Will there be scenes you will want to change? Scenes you regret? Scenes that will make you sick to your stomach?

If you reflect back on those experiences you’re least proud of, I’d bet that a common ingredient in many of them is a lack of compassion. Compassion for others, those who love you and hurt you and annoy you. Compassion for yourself, for you can only ever do the best you can in a given situation with the information available.

***

Live each day as if you intended to come back to that specific moment in the showcase of your entire life. Live as if you’ll be watching that day again in the future. Live gently, and kindly, and patiently.

***

No life is lived free from regrets or worries or fears or phobias or guilt. But life can be lived with compassion and wonder and silliness and hope and love. I think we tend to be most proud of ourselves when we’ve acted compassionately, especially when it was hard to do so.

Live a life you’ll be proud to watch over again, should you ever receive a front row seat to the showcase of your entire life.