Life is constant motion, growth, and discovery
You Start Dying Slowly
If you do not travel,
if you do not read,
if you do not listen to the sounds of life,
if you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly:
when you kill your self-esteem,
when you do not allow others to help you.
You start dying slowly;
if you become a slave to your habits,
walking the same paths every day…
if you do not change your routine,
if you do not wear different colors
or talk to strangers.
You start dying slowly:
if you avoid feeling passion
and its turbulent emotions;
those that make your eyes sparkle
and your heart beat faster.
You start dying slowly:
if you do not risk what is certain for the uncertain,
if you do not follow a dream,
if you do not allow yourself,
at least once in your lifetime,
to run away from sensible advice.
Do not allow yourself to die slowly.
Do not forget to be happy!”
~ Pablo Neruda ♡
Reading Pablo Neruda’s words, I am reminded of why I love to travel. Why I love to experience, to learn, and to grow. Deep inside, I feel that if I stop learning, discovering myself, loving, exploring the world, and savoring the day, I will stop living.
It’s like that person who works their entire life waiting for a dream retirement, only to suddenly pass away as soon as they retire. You’ve heard those stories, I’m sure.
Why does this happen? What do you think?
Because life isn’t meant to be put on hold. It’s not about finally resting on retirement, traveling at long last, or taking care of yourself once everything else is in place. It’s not, “Once I have a million in the bank, once I’m a director… then I’ll…”
Of course, goals, ambitions, and striving for success are important, but they should never come at the cost of health, family, or happiness in the present moment.
In my family, a favorite saying is, “Finally, I don’t have to do anything.” After a while, that “finally nothing to do” turns into boredom, nagging others around, or searching for a purpose, only to realize it wasn’t the point after all. It turns out that doing nothing isn’t the goal.
It’s the same with your body. If you don’t move, don’t exercise, or take walks, your body begins to decay. It becomes weaker, lacks energy, and loses vitality.
Life is constant motion, growth, and discovery. Every day is an opportunity to experience something new, love more deeply, and learn more profoundly. Let’s not let routine and waiting for “better days” kill our zest for life. Let’s live life fully now, without waiting for the “right moment.” Because the right moment is now.
In the picture is my beautiful 86-year-old grandma enjoying a papaya smoothie. 🙂
You can read the story of my 86-year-old grandma in Thailand in my post titled It’s Never Too Late to Travel. Feel free to check it out!