“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s quote invites us to explore what it means to be alive. Is it enough to simply not die? Does it mean spending each day trying to experience as much is possible? Do we feel as though we are truly living life or are we just trying to survive it? For most of us, I imagine we have done a bit of both at different times of our lives.

When Emerson uses the term “depth of life,” what does that mean to you? Does it mean a life filled with adventure and accomplishment? Or does it mean a life of substance and meaning? Does it mean a life of inner growth, developing your highest potentials? Or perhaps, a life that adds value to the world we live in? If we want to engage in our lives in meaningful ways instead of merely surviving it, reflecting upon questions such as these is extremely helpful. How can we create a meaningful life if we don’t discover what that means to us?

As the old saying goes, “life happens while you’re making other plans.” Our day-to-day life need not be a shallow one. Every interaction we have and activity we participate in can be meaningful if we purposefully engage in them with attention and intention. None of us really knows how long we will live, but we do know this day comes but once. It is common to forget how important each day is as we get caught up in busyness, distractions, and routines. This is why we encourage everyone to develop the habit of beginning their day with this reminder, as well as some reflection and meditation time.

I invite you to bring as much depth into your daily interactions and activities as possible. As you engage in them, do your best to remember that these moments will never come again. See if you can bring a sense of wonder and attention to them. Most of all, experience and enjoy them if possible. – John Bruna

The above is a an excerpt from one the daily emails sent to the members of the Mindful Life Community. I invite you to explore our community and consider joining.