Motivation Mondays: Live Your Wild & Precious Life
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver
Motivation Mondays: Live Your Wild & Precious Life
Mary Oliver reads “The Summer Day” (aka “The Grasshopper”)
Are you living your life fully with health and happiness in the forefront of it all? It was Mary Oliver who said, in Blackwater Woods, that To live in this world you must be able to do three things: To love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go…. Sunday was World Health Day and the theme for this year is universal health coverage. Without coverage, so many families, including children, cannot get basic healthcare. If you have coverage, be grateful and do your bit to support access for all. In part celebration and reflection, this post encourages us to take a look at our lives and address the limitations we/others experience whether self imposed or imposed by others. What can we do to change it? So many of us hold on to minutiae while making short shrift of meaningful relationships and friendships. We attach enormous weight to acquisitions while ignoring our health and well-being. We ignore the suffering of others as we lament our own. We spend endless hours online, trolling social media sites, instead of getting outside to breathe in fresh air, connect with other flesh and blood folks, and live our lives fully in the real world.
What is wrong with this picture? When was the last time you took a leisurely walk around your neighborhood with a friend? When was the last time you sat by a pond and watched swans, turtles and other life forms go about their business? When was the last time you took a new class, tried a new dish or took a new route home? Mary Oliver’s poem below, like many of her poems, spoke to my heart. She reminds us to pay attention, to not take anything for granted and to enjoy the wild and precious life we have. What are you waiting for? There is no perfect day or moment … every day and moment can be perfect; it all depends on us and our mindset. Rumi beckons us to come closer. He has insights to share. Excessive sleep will interfere with our time table for completion. Enjoy your sleep in good measure but don’t waste time in bed. This post is an attempt to reflect on the question Mary Oliver posed at the end of her poem, The Summer Day — Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life? I took my title from the question as well. This post is also about the loss of two friends,and the loss of a beloved Hip Hop star; it is about having priorities and taking care of ourselves and our loved ones. It is is about living and celebrating the life we have… life is unpredictable. Enjoy it.
The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life? via Library of Congress
The Breeze at Dawn by Rumi translated by Coleman Barks
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.
From Essential Rumi via allpoetry
READ: Psychology Today: Mary Oliver on How to Live ‘Your One Wild and Precious Life’
Forbes: 7 Leadership Lessons From Mary Oliver On How To Forge Your Own Path
“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.” Dead Poet’s Society
Motivation Mondays: Live Your Wild & Precious Life
Motivation Mondays: Live Your Wild & Precious Life
#HealthForAll – Health care for all: let’s make it a reality
How are you spending your time? Recently, two dear friends passed away suddenly. Their deaths were unexpected. One had been ailing but was not critically ill. The other was getting ready to go to work. I attended the wakes for these two dear souls and friends, and it got me thinking. Constance was one of my best and closest friends in the USA. When I came to the US, she was one of the first people to help me settle in to academic life at Columbia and adjust to the challenges of being in NYC. She was a terrific human being who applauded and encouraged all of us to aim high. She didn’t care about social media as her blood and flesh friendships mattered more. Over the years, she introduced me to lots of wonderful people and shared so many great healthy habits with me. She was a health conscious and hardworking soul. She did all the right things. Eze was a devoted father and friend to many. He was a prayerful man of God and raised three children alone. He was my bestie, Diahann’s, boyfriend and had so much life left in him too. He too lived an exemplary life. Yet, even with the best effort and quality healthcare, their lives were cut short. Imagine then, the enormous challenges that families without healthcare face daily. Quality care is imperative for us all; we all need it or will need it at some point in our lives.
How often do we put off things we want to do because we think the time isn’t right? How often do we ignore calls from friends or cut our conversations short because some other trivial distraction has caught our attention? How often do we put off establishing a sensible exercise or healthy eating routine? What about time spent in the company of family and close friends? Did you know that there are many credible scientific studies that show that strengthening our relationships and friendships can prolong our lives and keep us healthy? A Harvard University report encourages us to focus on strengthening our relationships, by spending time with our loved ones and discarding activities that waste our time. Another popular study showed that our friendships are a key social connection that can prolong our lives.
What lessons have You learned about life? Even the most sedentary among us can trill off a list of life lessons because, as long as we have life, there are lessons to be learned. What drew me to Mary Oliver’s poem, The Summer Day, was not just the power and simplicity of her message but also the urgency in the message to get on with living life and cut out the excuses. The author of the Forbes article above shared 7 life and leadership lessons gleaned from Mary’s body of work: Live your best life because Your life is what you make it. Stop punishing yourself. Learn from your pain. Only you know what’s best for you. Keep it simple. Worrying solves nothing, and it prevents nothing. Be useful. Add to that the 12 POSITIVE warning signs of health below, and you have a manifesto on how to live an extraordinary life. For those in despair, Wendell Berry offers some solace we can all comprehend. Each of the poems in this post offer fundamental exhortations we can all live by. We can begin today by living our version of a “best life.”
12 Warning Signs of Health by Unknown
1. Persistent presence of support network.
2. Chronic positive expectations; tendency to frame events in a constructive light.
3. Episodic peak experiences.
4. Sense of spiritual involvement.5. Increased sensitivity.
6.Tendency to adapt to changing conditions.
7. Rapid response and recovery of adrenaline system due to repeated challenges.
8. Increased appetite for physical activity.9. Tendency to identify and communicate feelings.
10. Repeated episodes of gratitude, generosity, or related emotions.
11. Compulsion to contribute to society.
12. Persistent sense of humor.
~ Collected from bulletin board in Waldport, Oregon — no author’s name given.via stevenkharper
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
From Collected Poems, North Point Pres. via poemhunter
READ: The New Yorker: What Mary Oliver’s Critics Don’t Understand
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for MAR – APR 2019 are:
03/03 – 08 International Women’s Day/Women’s History Month
03/10 – 10 iHeart Awards, 14 Pi Day
03/17 – 17 St Patrick’s Day, 20 Start of Spring/International Day of Happiness
03/24 – 30 Earth Hour
03/31 – 31 Day of Visibility
04/01 – 01 April Fool’s Day, 02 Autism Awareness, Equal Pay Day
04/07 – 07 World Health Day, 10 National Siblings Day
04/14 – 14 Palm Sunday, 15 Tax Day, 18 Holy Thursday, 19 Good Friday
04/21 – 21 Easter Sunday/ Start of Passover, 22 Earth Day, 23 World Book Day
04/28 – 29 Remembrance Day, 30 Jazz Day
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2019?
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“I’m at peace with what I’m doing, I feel good with what I wake up doing and about my lifestyle.”- Nipsey Hussle
Sending peace, love and healing light to his loved ones… 🙏🏿💔🙏🏿
Posted by Elizabeth Obih-Frank on Thursday, April 11, 2019
A Psalm of Life: On another sad note, When a soul leaves the earth, loved ones on earth and in heaven feel the reverberations of that life and spirit. Those left behind mourn, reminisce and celebrate a life lived and lost.💔🙏🏿 @nipseyhussle was a gifted, Grammy nominated Hip Hop artist who touched many lives. His senseless death has left a gaping wound in many hearts. May his legacy of community building and creative brilliance remain with us. Sending healing light, love and prayers to his loved ones.💔🙏🏿Today from 10-12pm PST, there will be a celebration of his life at @staplescenterla Many major news media outlets will stream it live.
A poem comes to mind – A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Read it and digest its message. 🙏🏿💔🙏🏿
A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” Mary Oliver
Motivation Mondays: Live Your Wild & Precious Life
How are YOU Living Your Wild and Precious Life?: The impetus for this post comes from the last line in the poem The Summer Day which I shared at the top of this post. The other poems I added also speak on a similar theme. They all encourage us to push forward and live. As Mary’s poem below asks: Do you need a prod? As William Stafford queries: What do you want to remember? Poetry is pithy with meaning and what makes the genre special is that you don’t always need to write an epic poem, like The Odyssey, to get your message across. Poetry speaks to us on a soul level, and we find meaning in poems that can be quite different for each reader. I love that aspect of poetry because it shows that poetry has a resonance that is deeply spiritual. We come to it with our own experiences and baggage and it speaks back to us. Of course, Mary says it succinctly, in A Poetry Handbook, when she says that: Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry.
Wrapping up The Summer Day in Spring: Mary poses a question at the end of a poem that looks candidly at life and the passage of time. She asks us: Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? It is a direct and bold question and one that so many of us avoid dealing with for whatever reasons get in the way. But, the truth is that the sooner we look at our lives through the lens of honest reflection, the sooner we can begin to make the necessary changes that could propel us in the direction of our goals and dreams. Life is best lived forward but we reference the past to give us a better picture of the typography of our lives. Unless we do the hard work of heavy lifting and deep digging that is required, we will only reap a small harvest. Of course, we all have different life goals and dreams so, set yours where you wish and follow the path by taking massive action. .. desires without works bear little fruit. William Stafford closes with this message: What can anyone give you greater than now, starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?
Excerpt from The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac Mary Oliver
3.
I know, you never intended to be in this world.
But you’re in it all the same.so why not get started immediately.
I mean, belonging to it.
There is so much to admire, to weep over.And to write music or poems about.
Bless the feet that take you to and fro.
Bless the eyes and the listening ears.
Bless the tongue, the marvel of taste.
Bless touching.You could live a hundred years, it’s happened.
Or not.
I am speaking from the fortunate platform
of many years,
none of which, I think, I ever wasted.
Do you need a prod?
Do you need a little darkness to get you going?
Let me be urgent as a knife, then,
and remind you of Keats,
so single of purpose and thinking, for a while,
he had a lifetime. via onbeing.org
You Reading This, Be Ready by William Stafford
Starting here, what do you want to remember?
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life –What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around? via houseofyoga
READ: BrainPickings – Mary Oliver on the Measure of a Life Well Lived and How to Maximize Our Aliveness
UC San Diego Health – Poetry & Other Readings We Use in the MBSR Classes
Any Zen Antics stories via
Positive Motivation Tip: Life is precious and unpredictable. Live it!
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
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Tag: – Motivation Mondays
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos: LIVE LIFE via Pixabay, AND/OR LIFE via Wikipedia…
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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Our lives is the greatest gift that we received. Live life that makes me proud and have a goal in life and work towards it.
pretty inspiring for living life to the fullest
Thank you for sharing this helpful list of warning signs. I’m always wary about things like these now that I’m in my late 30’s.
Really motivating,having said that, I have never thought that my life is wild in any way, I feel like I`m holding back too much and for that reason I`m also missing on quite alot, time to get out there.
I try to live my days to the fullest, but it does often get put on the back burner.
Really enjoy your blog and posts. Great work!
I feel like I am living my most wild and precious life!! It makes me feel good to think that way too!
Thanks for sharing more motivation on the ways to live our little life with more cheer. We need to take more deep breaths and get lost in the forests to settle our mind for better.
Holiii !!
I do not know this lady you mention, but she looks like a great person.
Good day!!
you made some great points. It was interesting to read
Wow what an inspirational post. Definitely has me thinking about some things
I look forward to each and every one of your posts. This one is a masterpiece. Many great suggestions that are truly gems of wisdom, that are very clearly and concisely presented – wow.
You are so kind… I enjoy yours too. <3
Thank you for the hearty dose of Mary Oliver! Her poems are so refreshing and necessary. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and stresses that we sometimes lose sight of what’s really important — health, family, friends, and our own dreams and goals.
That’s so true we are so caught up in life that we have forgot living, appreciating small things .we wait for the oerfper moment .and sometimes it never comes . Life isn’t just about passing the days but living it fully.
Holiii !!
I do not know this lady, but she looks like a very good person. I like that mentality that you have.
Good day!!
This is definitely a great reminder for all of us to enjoy our life, appreciate even little good things and to prioritize our health and wellness. This is really inspiring!
i feel so inspired to get outdoors! loved this read. It’s starting to warm up now, I’m gonna take my son on a little nature walk so we can take in the sights and sounds of nature together.
I love the poems throughout this post, so beautiful. Lots of things to ponder here, about living life to the fullest.
Living life to the fullest and to its maximum potential is super important. We all must realize that we are living for us. Amazing and such an inspiring post. Thanks!
Hi there
I know I do not live a wild life, I do “lock myself up” but reading your post makes me realize how much I`m missing out on, will try and live more, maybe not a wild life but sure a different one.
Okay, Hahaha! It’s not telling you to go wild… just pursue your passions with vigor. 🙂
Just the title of this made me realize that I need to live again. I really do. I enjoyed reading this in depth, going to reflect upon your words.
Thank you lady… we’ve come a long way on this journey called life. <3
This Mary Oliver poem speaks to my heart as well. Life is too fleeting! This why we should cherish every moment.
Looking at it, it seems that things have been good to me lately. I do hope that it continues. 🙂
Thanks for all the motivation! we only have one precious life and we should all live our best lives!
Wow! You really got me thinking! I need to slow down and appreciate the world around me more!
really makes you stop and think. I am always go go go, i rarely take the time to stop and enjoy life.
I have survived two accidents that I was told I was lucky to walk away from. After the second one I revived my interest in photography. This allows me the time to appreciate what is around me.
Good for you!
I’m sorry to hear you lost close friends recently. My condolences!
Having just turned 61 and having received some challenging health news last month, I am already making some big changes in my lifestyle so I can live this one precious life I have in a healthier and more fulfilling fashion.
Wishing you well too!
So much times I want to live like “YOLO”.. I even went a time in my life that having low self-esteem will not you go further in life. But with those, I think balance is still key. I agree though from the Harvard study that strengthening your relationship with your loved ones helps. Knowing more about that would be nice.
Oh thanks for sharing this motivation monday!
So important to live your life and be aware that you are living it!
I like Rumi’s poetry. It feels good to get reminders and motivators to live the life in a better way.
A Summer Day by Mary Oliver is such an interesting read. Always great to be introduced to a new author.
Great read it just made me reliaze how important our health comes first in everything we do.
Such a great reminder to be in the present and be thankful for the beauty in every moment – thank you for sharing!
I love reading your blog post .Always so motivational and full of positivity
These are some deep questions. I’m terrible at putting things off, so thanks for reminding me that I should make more time for others. Life is short, and you never know what’s going to happen next!
Such a great article! It’s true that if we just all slowed down and enjoyed the little things in life, I think we would “enjoy” it more!
I want to live my most wild life but there are too many rules from work and society that makes it not worthwhile.
The poetry is so beautiful. What matters is living every moment fully and completely. Your posts are always heart touching .
I am so terrible at putting things off. One I am doing right now is not applying for school, I just get really nervous but I need to do it. Thanks for this post.
wild life should definitely preserved. it is precious and is very much needed for your big home, our planet. Great reminder today
Too many of us don’t live our lives. Not really. We put things off just waiting for the right time, but the “right” time is often never there. We just have to live.
The poem by Rumi is so beautiful! It is indeed important to spend our time meaningfully while we are on earth surrounded by our loved ones.
I truly agree with you we should try to live our lives fully. Sometimes we compromise a lot for others.
Great share, this post very inspiring thanks for share with us.. 👍
Such motivating content. I love how you broke down the poem Blue Horses. Listening to Mary read it was very impactful.
There’s alot changing in my life lately and I’ve been telling my husband “i need to get my life together!” and working towards small goals at a time is definitely helping putting my life together again a reality! Learning to be who I am instead of what everyone wants me to be is a huge step!
I really enjoyed reading this. I think a lot of times we all go through this phase where life takes over and we don’t really find time to appreciate things as well as time to take a break. I feel like a lot of us end up overwhelming ourselves with so much and we don’t take time out to reach out to others. A lot of times we put off things too for a variety of different reasons. It’s important to get back to the basics and reach out to others as well as take time to reach out to ourselves to make sure that we are okay as we deal with the stresses of life.
Very true…
This is such an eye opening post. It made me reflect on the kind of life I am living. I only have one life and I don’t think I have made the most of the gifts I have been blessed with. Every day I am drowning in mundane, routine tasks that are of importance to some but not to me. I will have to think of ways to enjoy living and appreciate the beauty around me. I will not make my talents go to waste!
Thanks for reminding me of self care. Such posts are necessary to refresh from the busy schedule.
I actually missed World Health Day this year. Sorry I missed it. I usually write about that too. Your collage is beautiful again as always and cheery too.
Such a powerful message. Thanks for sharing this post with us. I really like this quote : “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” Mary Oliver
Wildlife poetry…interesting. I was introduced to Ms. Oliver at her passing a couple of months ago. I’m not into modern poetry but I have a few modern poets I like that are African.
Not sure if previous comment went through so again…
I don’t know much about modern poetry and I don’t really follow it but I do know certain poetry from some African poets that speak on heritage, culture, patriarchy and modern way of life.
I love this! Life is short so enjoy the things that makes you feel happy!
It’s so important to find your passion in each day. Mine is travel, so if I’m not exploring new places, I read books and articles on new places I would like to see, or I am editing old travel photos. My life doesn’t feel wild or precious unless there’s adventure waiting on the horizon for me.
very informative & inspiring sharing here, learnt some positive energy, thanks for sharing this. cheers, siennylovesdrawing
I know I’m definitely living this life !!
very creative motivational sharing here, after reading, gained some positive vibes, thanks for sharing this. cheers, siennylovesdrawing
Good read. Great motivation. I am from the Bronx, New York and within the last 3 years moved to an island in the South Pacific. It has really caused me to stop and appreciate the nature all around.
Your opening questions always get me. Am I living my life with my health and happiness at the forefront? For a LONG time I was not. For a LONG time I denied my physical condition, worked too hard, pushed through pain and exhaustion, and believed that I wasn’t a good or worthy person if I wasn’t always sacrificing for the ones I love. And, wow, did God have to take away so much of my life, so much of me before I realized what it is really important. I am still putting the pieces together and learning how to live my life with these things as top priority – health and happiness. But I’m getting there.
You are not alone on that journey… welcome. <3
I’ve been having a very difficult time lately and have kept the struggles mostly to myself. I just want to sincerely say thank you for this post. Mary Oliver is one of my favorites and even though I *know* her words so well, I sometimes forget them and get swept away with what’s and forget about whys. I needed this today. 💛
I’m glad it helped you…I know that feeling. <3
I actually try and do my best to take note of the “finer things” in life quite often. All too often we tend to just let life FLY BY without appreciating things. I do not let this happen!
This was extremely motivational! Thanks for spreading your positive outlook on life! This is what I really needed.
I want to live my life without negativity, I want to spend my precious life with the people whom I love. I think it’s so important to live our life to the fullest.
Ah I love these photos and the idea of living life… I need more motivational inputs in my life! 💚
You are right. With all the work stuff and stress we tend to ignore both our mental and physical health. 😞
The poem by William Stafford is my favorite.
best line: When you turn around, starting here, lift this.
Just love it.
After reading this post, it has taught me to be more conscious of the little thing happen around us, such as a bird sipping nectar in my garden or a fly trying to steal my food.
Hmm, for as long as you’re happy and you’re not stepping on other people, I think you’re living just the right way. :0)
is a good reminder to pause and be grateful to what we have in front
Great and informative post. I’m always trying my best to live life to the fullest!
Life is very important. we should not take anything for granted that is for sure. I can only agree with your post and wonderful poem
This is such an eye opener that we are such creatures of routine. I know that I hardly ever do anything that would be considered wild or crazy anymore.
And that is fine. Mary is simply reminding us to live our lives fully and to step away from the wall of fear.
Great article to remind us that we need to check in with ourselves and take care of ourselves. Thank you for sharing.
This is very motivating and the cited resources are very insightful and helpful. Health is wealth and its really precious so we need to take care of it.
Indeed, without our health and all the loving care we get from loved ones and friendships, we become a shell.
This is so beautiful and very inspiring. I am so sorry to hear about the death of two of your friend, this must have been so hard to deal with. But it is amazing how you turned this negative incident into positive motivation. Thank you so much for the post.
Thank you Chad. I appreciate that you took time to read the post.
Very thought provoking and insightful psot
I don’t think we can fully live if we’re not focusing on health an happiness. They have to be at the top of the list.
I think that we get too busy sometimes. We forget the most important part of life.
I think that’s the concept behind self-love and care. We have to remember to take care of ourselves, health and happiness wise.
Love this. I always love being motivated.
Definitely guilty of puttitng off things until the time feels right but of course the right time hardly ever comes around. Definitely an inspiring post. I need to learn to live in the moment more.
You are not alone. It is a very human quality
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Your posts are very enlightening.
Thank you Devyani!
Such a great idea to motivate! I am trying to live the life to the fullest! and it is the best help not to lose the momentum – thanks
I try to spend more time with family more. I’d love to travel more alone or with them.
I never listened to Nipsey before he died. My husband did daily and right now as I type I have found myself listing to him since he died and loving his music. He is honestly so inspiring. He has given me so much motivation these last few days to do bigger things with my life and help other.
Yes, and sadly those who know nothing about the Hip Hop community assume they are all fronting and thugs. Like every other creative and dynamic community, it is mixed and their lives are wild/tame and precious … just like the rest of us. Yes, they have loved ones too.
Nipsey’s funeral was so touching. i cried my eyes out but he was a powerful man that many didnt even know but he had a beautiful legacy.
So true…sadly, some will forget.
Such a wonderful article to read and be motivated to plan what’s need to be done and accomplish in our life. Such an inspiration and guide of what we need to do to our life to make it precious.
Thank you Catherine, we all deserve the best…
Thank you for posting the links to all of these helpful resources! I’ve been in such a funk lately that it’s sometimes hard to remember that one bad moment doesn’t negate all of the good things I have going on in my life. This is a great reminder.
I agree Catherine. I was motivated after reading this article. 🙂
Ugh I never take leisurely walks anymore! We’re usually hastily walking the dogs or pushing the kids in strollers
Thanks for sharing this list of health warning signs. I’m at the age when I should be wary about the little kinks and creaks in my body. 😉
Yes, I love that commonsense list. It is a positive reminder to LIVE!
I so love the enthusiasm and motivation of your article. Keep it up!
Article is a must read, 12 Warning Signs of Health by Unknown is something to remind ourselves about
I put off things to do at a “better” time, which makes it even harder
I really like this part “Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?” Good luck with blogging 🙂
This is wonderful and I am trying my best to live my best life!!
as i get older, i’ve been trying to stay better in tune with my body and be aware of health warning signs. thank you for sharing!
Mary Oliver’s words are amazing. She challenges us to be bold and live a gorgeous life that only we can do. To reach and not settle, to question with the belief that we have the right to know and to ask for more. Thanks for a wonderful blog post.
We all have the tendency to get carried away with the business and stress of life and forget the true reason of our being. Thanks for such a resourceful article. It is great to reflect on the true meaning of life from time to time.
I really enjoyed the peace of the wild things poem. It was really inspiring and beautiful!
I love everything about your blog and the message it’s sending. I can tell you are a beautiful person inside out. Talking about inspiration, I admired Nipsey. It’s unfortunate that he had to go but I think people are now learning of him and he is an inspiration to so many.
Thank you. The sentiments are mutual
It is important to take a step back from our fast paced lives and take a moment to appreciate the nature, our friends and family around us. It is important to be mindful and live a content life.
Wonderful photos. I believe to have adventurous and crazy life . Meanwhile, we should take care of our health.
very motivating, very insightful and helpful. Health is number one and the most important thing above all.
This is so beautiful and very inspiring. Its is a positive source. Thanks for sharing.
You only live once.So we have to take care of this and we should always find a way to keep ourselves motivated and to keep moving forward.Im sorry for your lost.
this is such a great reminder to live a happy life. I woke up this morning stressed and not my best self. this is a great reminder to recenter!
Your post reminds me of the time I put my life on pause and moved to Italy for a while. During that period I decided to say “yes” to everything, and this way I got to live and discover moments and things that otherwise I wouldn’t have had. I made friends with the locals, I got invited to different local events, I tried new foods, I even picked up olives and learned how they turn into olive oil. And I never felt happier!
It is an eye opener, but sadly in the last two weeks I don’t have time to think about am I happy or unhappy, I have gotten into that ditch where it’s only work or college, but I blame being so close to being done, after that I’ll start doing crazy stuff again ;D
I really try to live my life in a healthy and happy way. I find that when I am happier in my life that everyone that is around me is happy as well
It is such a good question to marinate in. What are you doing with your life? I think we should all ask it every couple of years or so of ourselves. Who and what are you impacting?
Wow, I am terribly sorry for your loss. Time is precious especially time spent with loved ones. Also, it’s important to manage time effectively to succeed in what needs to be done.
i’m sorry about the loss of your two friends. very insightful post and i’m glad you shared it
Your post has told me life is fragile and we never know when someone whom we loved or even acquaintance or neighbor may leave us unexpectedly. Hence we shall pay a little attention to our surrounding, not just the people but also the wild, or nature around us. Embrace them.
Very inspiring post. I have to tell myself to get up wach day and follow my dream even in small step. This year I’m betting on myself to live laugh and take action
Nice motivational post. I have written something similar regarding passion and no time limit because there is age for passion. Enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I try to live my life to the fullest. Sometimes I just get too caught up in trying to get my ducks in a row.
I absolutely adore this! I always try to live each day like it’s my last. You never know what may happen tomorrow.
I listened to Nipsey’s celebration of life and his mum is just so…wow! She radiated such calm and peace and forgiveness for a woman who had lost her child. Just really sad that he had to be taken at his prime. He really was at his prime.
Yes… she is a powerful spirit!
This is such an eye opener! Thanks for sharing!
wow very eye opening thank you for posting it!
I really enjoyed reading this because it is so well written! My problem is I’m a procrastinator but I’m working on it! Life is too short! RIP to Nipsey his passing really made me sad and I didn’t know him or really listen to his music!
Yes, I’m happy with my life and learning to let go! Great piece of advice.
Great reminder to live life to the fullest, I like to try to live my life in a way to maximize happiness, I stop to smell the roses and I always try new things
In the last one year i have done many crazy things. And things that i love and at this point of life all i care about is trying new things and doing the things in life which make me happy
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally
Im so guilty after reading this, I know sometimes I just ignore by body telling me that something is not feeling right. I need to.listen to my body more rather than just ignoring and hoping it will just get better.
We were hit with cancer in our family five years ago. Now we travel and have all kinds of things we do.
Stay blessed and healthy!
I really needed this reminder to sit back and take stock of my wild and precious life! I need to stop just surviving and THRIVE instead!
I do think I’m enjoying my life while staying healthy at the same time. Thanks for the reminder.😊
This is such an inspiring article. Our life is our responsibility and if our body tries to tell us something then we should not ignore it. Any warning signs should be taken with much attention.
You are so right taking care of my health is my utmost piority now. We have so much going on that we tend to forget our health comes first.
In the whole scheme of things, life is so fleetingly short and precious. We are all guilty in this modern age of forgetting this as we focus on the day to day problems, that are really not worth the stress and distraction. This is a great post to remind people to keep things in perspective.
Great post. I am still so sad about Nipsey. He did so much for his community and really tried to change things.
This was very inspiring for me to become productive and live my life to the fullest. Cheers for this post!
I really believe in perfect timing. I know sometimes life can be very challenging but we all need some time to appreciate small things in life.
I love poetry. The Breeze at Dawn by Rumi translated by Coleman Barks is a really nice poem.
Yes… definitely
12 Warning Signs of Health by Unknown is inspiring and cleverly written. I will refer to it anytime I can use some inspiration!
Throughly enjoyed your post.. it sent such positive and healing vibes. It was truly inspiring, I love poetry and am a huge fan of Deadman’s poetry society so all the more reasons for me. Thank you for giving us a food for thought.
Thank you too for your enthusiastic feedback. 🙂
What do I plan to do with my wild and precious life? Good question. See the world, have tons of experiences, meet people, love people, help people, leave a mark, spread positivity. That would be my list.
You have very nice contents on this site
I’m really struggling with life right now, specifically due to my job. This is a necessary read.
Such an inspirational post. It motivated me to get things done which I have been pushing away. ✔😊
I think I need to re-read this article everyday to heal myself, such a very good content.
I have been trying to appreciate myself enough to have it all wild and calm at the same time!
I know my health isn’t the best, but I’m always looking for ways to stay healthier so I’m at less risk.
And I’m very sorry for your losses.
This post kinda reminded me of the poem Leisure. However the points are beautifully described here.
Your writing is such an inspiration! A lot to learn from here thank you for sharing all your thoughts!
thank you for sharing this list. with the warning signs. It has inspire me to be healthy and live my life to the fullest.
You have very inspiring words. I love to hear your thoughts and see your pictures. A great start to my week!
Thank you for the reading recommendation. Will check that out.
I am sorry for your loss. It also made me think on how I am taking good care of myself. I also know a someone who died suddenly. This is a very sad reality we have right now.
Sorry to hear about yours too and thank you for taking a moment to weigh in.
Such a great day to read this! I resonated with a lot of today’s post. Thank you!
This is a perfect reminder for me right now to appreciate life and not take it for granted!
It’s been a while since I stare at some turtles or swans at the pond.. Maybe I should visit a nearby zoo this holy weekend.. 😘
A great read. Your posts are always full of positivity and inspiration
Thank you V!
Every week the list gets more and more interesting!
Hahaha! 🙂 Really?
I think this is beautiful motivation and thank you for reminding me about precious life
You can never go wrong with Rumi. Another great article.
Thank you John!
This is such an inspiring article. I love your thoughts very much. It contains all positive energy. Thank you!
My favorite piece from this post is the poem The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry – it really spoke to me! So inspiring!
Your writing made me reflect on a lot of things in my life. I realize I take for granted things around me while pursuing things that are trivial. Thank you for this great reminder.
Great tips! Lots of motivation and inspiration here! Thanks for another great read x
I can relate to this post, so much especially the part about putting things off. I cannot tell you how many times, I have spent putting off things until the “time is right.” One thing I’ve learned in life, there is never a right time. There will always be distractions, but we have to learn to just get things done. If we wait too long, nothing ever happens.
Thank you so much for the wonderful list. What a well written post. I love Rumi and growing up have seen my dad reading his books. Amzing!
This article touches on so many issues that strike a chord with me. The most important is health coverage and the fact that I am only able to live a relatively mobile existence because my employer provides an excellent health care plan that covers all the medication required for my rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately it’s not in my home country, where most of the medications I’ve been on over the past decade are not even available yet. That brings me to my wild and precious life. I believe that if I hadn’t been stuck here, in a manner of speaking, I would have missed so many opportunities for travel and growth that would not have been possible in my home country.
It is only of late that I have learned to live life the way I see fit and not live life according to how others expect me to live it. I’ve lso learned to let go of things that will not make me happy and just move forward with grace.
I try my best to live as wildly and freely as as I possibly can because, as the poem states, life is so precious. What better way to show our gratitude for life than to live it to its fullest?