Most people spend their lives sleepwalking—moving through days without truly living them. But every single moment you’re alive is a miracle. The fact that your heart beats, your eyes see, your lungs breathe—that you get to be here at all—is astonishing. Remembering you’re alive means not taking existence for granted. It means noticing beauty, acting with urgency, and valuing this short, mysterious journey.
A True Story: The Man Who Woke Up After 12 Years
Martin Pistorius fell into a coma at age 12. Though his body was unresponsive, his mind eventually returned—but no one knew. For years, he was trapped in silence, fully aware. One day, a caregiver noticed a glimmer of responsiveness. Through immense effort and therapy, he eventually regained communication. When asked how he survived, he said: “I remembered that I was alive. I decided not to let my mind die just because my body couldn’t move.” That awareness gave him a second life—one he now lives with awe.
Three Quotes from Books About Being Fully Alive
In Awareness (1990), Anthony de Mello wrote:
You’re never more alive than in the present moment. But you’re rarely there. Wake up. Open your eyes. You’re missing your life while it’s happening.
~ Anthony de Mello
In The Untethered Soul (2007), Michael A. Singer said:
The miracle is not that life exists—it’s that you’re aware of it. To truly live, you must remember that your time is borrowed and precious.
~ Michael A. Singer
In When Breath Becomes Air (2016), Paul Kalanithi reflected:
Even if I’m dying, until I actually die, I am still living. Every breath is a chance to become.
~ Paul Kalanithi
Five More Quotes About the Urgency of Life
In a 2005 commencement speech, Steve Jobs said:
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
~ Steve Jobs
In a 1991 interview, Maya Angelou said:
Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.
~ Maya Angelou
In The War of Art (2002), Steven Pressfield wrote:
Resistance will tell you to wait. But life doesn’t wait. It is happening now. And if you don’t act, you miss it.
~ Steven Pressfield
In Tuesdays with Morrie (1997), Mitch Albom shared:
Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long. Find what matters while you still can.
~ Mitch Albom
In a 2019 podcast, Tim Urban said:
Your life isn’t a rehearsal. This is it. Right now. Stop putting off being the person you want to be. Time doesn’t stop, and neither should you.
~ Tim Urban
Life Lesson:
You’re not promised another breath. Remembering you’re alive doesn’t mean fear—it means freedom. You don’t have to waste time, hold back, or live in half-measures. Every second matters. Every day counts. Don’t sleepwalk through the gift of being here. Look up. Speak kindly. Love deeply. Act boldly. This is your one chance to live like it matters—because it does.
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