Live a Full Life

You say you are comfortable. You say you are content. You say you deal with the troubles of the day by looking the other way. You pride yourself in avoidance, but something doesn’t sound right.

You say you are comfortable. You say you are content. You say you deal with the troubles of the day by looking the other way. You pride yourself in avoidance, but something doesn’t sound right. I don’t hear any fight in your voice. I don’t hear disgust. There is no disappointment. It’s all been washed away with your uncanny ability to ‘deal with it’. You say you are neutral. You don’t care. It no longer bothers you. You’ve lost interest.
 
I say your spirit is broken. I say you’ve shut down. I say you’ve sacrificed your vitality. Your creativity and your smile sit on a shelf. You say you’re o.k. with it, but I know you better than that. I know your light is snuffed out. I know you are sitting, waiting and watching while your life passes you by. I know you have something powerful in you. I know it wants to show itself. I’ve seen glimpses of it.
 
I know life is weighing you down. You can’t see your way out. I know you think the consequences of taking a stand are too great. I know you are frightened. I know you are paralyzed. I know you hold tight to what ‘is’ because what ‘could be’ terrorizes you. I am on the other side. I know what it takes to dig deep, unearth hidden strength, and let it see the light of day. I have felt the power rise in me and I recognize it in you. I can hear its whisper. It’s desperation to be let free. I know the resistance that holds it back. I know the fear that grips tight with no give. I have felt the burden of releasing the strength despite the strangle hold of fear. I am not stronger, or more courageous, or willful than you. What makes us different is one decision you haven’t made yet. The decision to live a full life.
 
I want to breathe while I have lungs to take in the cool country air. I want to explore while I have eyes capable of seeing the hues of the rainbow. I want to experience while I have hands to welcome in the expansive joys life has to offer. I want to love while I have the capacity to give all of myself. I want to stand while I have strength in my body. I want to live my life with all that means. The struggle, the torment, the fight, as well as the beauty, the laughter, and the dance. In your effort to preserve your comfort you sacrifice a life fully lived. We are not that different, you and I.