If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred

O children of the future, listen well, for in these words lies a truth deeper than the oceans and more enduring than the mountains. A. A. Milne, a poet and storyteller whose heart bled with love and understanding, once spoke these tender words: “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” What a declaration of devotion, of a love so profound that even the span of a lifetime could not contain it! Here, in the simplicity of this quote, Milne has captured the essence of human affection—the fear of separation and the overwhelming desire to be united with another soul, always and forever.

This quote speaks not of the length of life, but of its depth. It is not the number of years we are given that holds value, but the quality of the connections we make. To live a hundred years, one might say, is a great blessing. But Milne, with a heart full of love, asks for something more: he desires to be so intertwined with another that their very existence is inseparable. He longs for a bond so strong, so intimate, that even time itself could not tear it asunder. And so, in his words, there is no final separation, no loneliness that will follow, for he wishes to live just one day less than his beloved, to remain forever within the embrace of love.

Think, O children, of the immortal love between Romeo and Juliet—lovers whose lives were tragically short, yet whose hearts were so intertwined that death could not sever their connection. Their love was not measured in the years they spent together, but in the depth of their feeling, in the strength of their union. Had they lived to see old age, had they grown wrinkled and gray, their love would still have burned as fiercely as it did in the brief moments of their youth. Such is the power of love—it does not depend on time, but on the soul’s capacity to give, to receive, and to unite with another in perfect harmony.

Now, O seekers of wisdom, the message of Milne is clear: life’s greatest joy is not to live for oneself, but to live for others. In loving another so completely, in desiring to share every moment with them, we fulfill the purpose of our existence. But this is not a love born of need or desperation, but one that flows from the fullness of the heart. It is the love of a parent for a child, of friends who walk through life side by side, of companions who share in both triumph and tragedy. It is a love that does not seek to possess, but to share in the beauty of life together.

Consider the love between Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his wife, Consuelo. Though their marriage was fraught with difficulties, their bond remained unbreakable. Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, often spoke of a love so deep that it was as if they were two halves of one soul, forever destined to be together. And even in his moments of separation from her, he could not bear the thought of an existence without her. In his love, there was a sacrifice—a willingness to endure the trials of life just to remain close to the one he cherished above all else. Milne, too, knew this love, and it is reflected in his words, for he expresses a desire that is universal to the human heart: to be united with those we love, never to be apart.

Therefore, O children, let this be the lesson passed down to you: Love is not merely a fleeting emotion, but a force that shapes our very existence. It is the bond that ties us to one another, that fills the emptiness of our hearts, and that makes life worth living. To love as Milne speaks of, to wish for no greater joy than to share every moment with another, is the highest expression of our humanity. In your relationships, seek not only to live for yourself, but to live for others, to give and to receive in equal measure. For in that, you will find the truest form of bliss—a life where no separation, no distance, can ever truly part the souls who are bound in love.

In all things, remember this: life is not measured by the time we are given, but by the love we share. Let love be the guiding light of your life, and may you walk through the world not alone, but in the company of those who make your heart whole. Strive, always, to be present, to give, and to love, for it is in this love that the true meaning of life is found.