Listen - are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?

Listen - are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?

Mary Oliver, the beloved poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, often wrote about the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Her poems are filled with vivid imagery and profound insights that encourage readers to slow down, pay attention, and truly appreciate the world around them. In one of her most famous poems, "The Summer Day," Oliver poses a question that cuts to the heart of what it means to truly live: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

In a similar vein, the line "Listen - are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?" challenges us to consider whether we are truly living fully and authentically. Are we merely going through the motions, taking shallow breaths and going through the motions of life without truly engaging with the world around us? Are we settling for a half-lived existence, content to simply exist rather than truly thrive?

Oliver's words serve as a wake-up call, a reminder to pause and reflect on how we are living our lives. Are we fully present in each moment, savoring the beauty and joy that surrounds us? Are we pursuing our passions and dreams with gusto, or are we holding back out of fear or complacency? Are we taking risks, stepping out of our comfort zones, and embracing the unknown?