It took me a while to share this, but eventually, I felt deep in my heart that I needed to pass along the wisdom and reminder I’ve received.
So here it is…
A Moment Between Life and Death – A Wake-Up Call to Live Fully
About two months ago, I had a near-death encounter with an animal. Honestly, I’m still processing the experience. However, one thing has become crystal clear: Life is incredibly fragile.
In a single breath, everything I knew could’ve ended. And in that moment—raw, terrifying, humbling—it hit me just how easy it is to take life for granted. We move so fast. We get stuck in routines and expectations, endlessly scrolling through stress, constantly trying to keep up or hold on. But when you come face-to-face with death, suddenly, none of that matters anymore. Not the petty arguments. Not the bills. Not the unanswered texts. Not the opinions of people who don’t really know you.
So, what does matter?
Being alive. Feeling. Loving. Breathing. Simply being present.
That experience gave me something I hope to carry with me forever: a deep and lasting reminder to be free—free from the noise, the distractions, and the attachments that steal our time and energy. In other words, free to just be. Free to slow down. To notice the warmth of the sun on your skin, the beat of your heart when someone makes you laugh, the silent love in your pet’s eyes that you didn’t even know you needed.
Therefore, we owe it to ourselves to be mindful in each moment—to appreciate life not only during the big, exciting events but also in the small, everyday miracles that often go unnoticed. Furthermore, don’t sweat the small stuff. Let people and situations end if they’re meant to. Don’t cling to spaces your soul is quietly outgrowing.
After all, the cost is far too high. And that cost… is time—time we could spend being kind, being present, being grateful. Most importantly, being alive.
So, take that trip.
Say “I love you” more.
Forgive, even when it’s hard.
Laugh often. Hug your people tighter.
And above all, be softer with yourself.
Because we are here for such a short, miraculous time.
As the Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius once said,
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do, say, and think.”
Finally, if you need a song to carry this message forward in your heart, let it be “I Lived” by OneRepublic. May it remind you to live boldly, love deeply, and never take a moment for granted.
With much love and gratitude,
💛
