This Moment (A Poem)

Life and death are strange things, for sure

In the midst of a healthy life
Filled with unlimited potential

The beauty and precious moments therein
Are missed and passed over
With arrogance and flippancy

It’s as if we believe that these moments
Will keep presenting themselves
Endlessly

But they don’t

They stop

I’ve seen them

Stop.

True life is lived celebrating the moment
And that’s all we actually have

It’s as if we’re on a conveyor belt
That relentlessly passes beneath us

What lies ahead isn’t ever known

Ever

Yet we obsess over this unknown

The past will never come again

Ever

Yet we obsess over what has been

The path veers from what we had hoped for
And we’ll never be able to change it

Yet we obsess over the connected regret
To something we never actually completely 

Controlled

To live life to the fullest
We must create discipline in our minds and

Pause

Consider the actual moment being lived
As if it is all you will ever have
Because it is

This moment

Now this one

And now, this one

In each moment that you are given
Be thankful

Maximize your potential opportunities
By doing what you can
While you still can

Can you run?
Let’s run together

Can you climb?
Get out there and climb something

We can all sing!
So sing unhindered and with all your heart

Can you dream?
Dream of a better world

Can you write?
Write and inspire others

Can you love?
Love generously

As for me, and in each precious moment

I thank

God.

This Moment

A Poem by Vijay Manuel

(C)2021