If You Could Chat with Anyone, Who Would You Choose?

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If you could chat, who would you choose?

Isn’t it wonderful to sit and chat with a good friend?  If you could chat with anyone from the past or present for an hour, who would you choose?

If you could chat with anyone for an hour who would it be meme

I conducted non-scientific, social media experiments among Latter-day Saints and friends of other faiths to find out who people would choose. I figured I could easily guess the results!  Boy, was I wrong!!!   Parents/Grandparents overwhelmingly blew away the rest of the competition!

I enjoyed reading people’s choices for their cherished hour. Here are the top results for if people could chat with anyone who they would choose. I hope you enjoy the few I shared.

1. Parents or Grandparents

Parents on a bench

Darla: My mom. So many things I’d like to know, and things she told me that I didn’t make record of. But mostly to tell her about her two beautiful great-granddaughters, and how great her grandkids are.

Ina: My father. He was a good dad.  He worked hard to support his family long hours and extra jobs.He always came home tired, and would fall asleep in his chair after dinner. I never got to really KNOW him as a person. I was young and stupid and didn’t think to ask him about his life, his dreams, how he met mom, or what his parents were like. So many questions……. No answers.

Heather: Mom and Dad. They know me better than anyone, so I’m completely comfortable and I like to hear the stories about our family:) We have an awesome family 🙂

Cindy: Probably my natural mother who gave me up for adoption to let her know I turned out great….and especially to find out about her. All I know is that she was a model…..and paid for all the doctor expenses.

Anna: My mom’s grandmother. My mom was raised by her until she was 5. My mom has so many great stories about Thala . She lived to be over 100, was married a few times – outlived each husband – each one dying a tragic death. My mom said she loved jewelry and perfume and the color red. I remember driving to Corpus when I was little to her funeral and I just remember my mom crying the entire drive. And my mom is not a crier. My mom has only one picture of her. She has this mischievous smile and a spark in her eye that just screams – “I like to have fun!” So with all of that, I would like to meet my great grandmother.

Rebecca: I would love to chat with my Grandma. I want to know her philosophy on child rearing, and to hear first-hand how she handled some of her parenting challenges.

Katie: My grandma or grandpa who have passed away and I miss so much! I’d love to get to know them more as an adult and tell them how much I love them and that I’m trying to honor their name and life with my own. They made huge sacrifices that have greatly blessed my life and I am so grateful!

2. A Child

Mom and daughter on a bench

Denise: I’d like to talk to the son I gave up for adoption to tell him why, and find out if he did have a better life than I could provide, and if his parents were as I was told they would be.

Penny: My daughter. She was born with brain damage because of lack of oxygen at birth (abduction of the placenta) and she died when she was 2 1/2 years old.

3. Scriptural Heroes

Saint Andrew by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Saint Andrew by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Lori: Apostle Paul. Or John. Would be so cool.

Dawnelle: Moroni and the Apostle Peter top my list.

Jessica: I would love to chat with Mary, the mother of Jesus, for an hour because she’s an incredible woman and example. I wish I could read her journals and learn more about what made her-her. She was chosen at such a young age to be the mother of the Savior of the world. I can’t begin to comprehend what thoughts and feelings she had as she realized her pivotal role in the Plan of Salvation.

4. Modern Day Heroes

"Camille Monet on a Bench" by Claude Monet, 1873
“Camille Monet on a Bench” by Claude Monet, 1873

Amy: Emma Smith…she was so inspiring to those around her.

Sheri: I have so much love and a strong testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have so many questions I want to ask him, but mostly thank him for what he did for us! I want to thank him for his enduring and exceeding faith in us. He had to have seen all of us and the future. He must have had the greatest love for us and Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ. I just want to sit next to him and feel the Spirit testify of him as the Prophet and then if I felt prompted to ask him if he wants to share anything with me. I think more than anything I would want to ask him if there’s anything I can do to help in the Gospel. I would thank him again for being the Prophet of the Restoration and having exceeding faith.

Joshua: Freddie Mercury…Because Freddie had such an abundance of talent that I cannot help but admire him. From songwriter to pianist to consummate performer with that incredible voice, he put himself out completely with little thought for acceptance or how society might view him. With his massive personality and talent, I think a conversation with Freddie would be fascinating.

Jackie: I love President Hinckley because he made me feel like he was a sweet grandfather that always gave me loving direction and I always had a confirmation that his guidance came from Heavenly Father. I would love to visit with him about how he was always so joyous

5. Jesus Christ

"Lost and Found" by Greg Olsen
“Lost and Found” by Greg Olsen

Lane: I would like a few minutes with the Savior to express my gratitude for the His atoning sacrifice!

Sue: The Savior. I would love to sit right by him and talk. Just talk of the eternities.

6. A Younger Version of Yourself

Chino Otsuka superimposes her adult self into pictures of her childhood
Chino Otsuka superimposes her adult self into pictures of her childhood

The few who mentioned that they’d like to chat with a former self reminded me of Chino Otsuka’s project “Imagine Finding Me.” She found childhood pictures and decided to recreate the scene as an adult and then superimpose her adult image onto the childhood scene.  She introduced her series with these simple lines:

If,
again
I have a chance to meet,
there is so much I want to ask
and so much I want to tell

~Chino Otsuka

What do you wish you could share with your younger self?

Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, suggests regularly thinking back at some point of struggle or issue in your life.  Then, in the present, write a note to your previous self about options, attitudes, hopes, and possibilities. He said that the exercise promoted peace in the present as you identify the same options, attitudes, hope, and dreams in your day to day life. 

This fun “experiment” reminded me how precious my relationships are! And, I called my parents for a 45 minute chat.