Die Slowly (A Morte Devagar) is an inspiring poem, a true ode to life, written by Brazilian journalist and writer Martha Medeiros and published in 2000 in the newspaper Zero Hora, Brazil. It’s the anthem of the people who do not want to settle for survival. It’s an ode to living life to the fullest.
AN ANTHEM TO LIFE
''We die in small doses”. This is how Martha Medeiros sees the way we go through life.
This is because we are busy living a life of rationality, monotony, and of staticity.
But, a life lived with the handbrake on only brings us closer to our defeat, and death.
After all, it is not necessary for the heart to stop pulsing in order to die, we can die every day if we don’t take an active role in our life; if we live our lives on autopilot, and if we let time slip through our fingers without making the most of it.
We make our existences flat by entering a monotonous vortex of faded emotions.
So, we find ourselves surviving instead of living fully.
As the poet highlights, living fully means not being a slave to habits; it means being able to find new paths and stimuli.
That's why today I want to share with you this wonderful poem - Die Slowly - because when reading this ode to life one can’t help but pause, reflect, and become aware of the fact that, "being alive requires an effort far greater than simply breathing".
Below is the poem that will make you think about how we risk dying slowly every day and will encourage you to live your life to the fullest.
So don’t forget to bookmark this page; even better, print this poem and keep it handy.
At the end of our life, we regret the chances we didn’t take to make our life a masterpiece.
So let others settle for survival, but not you!
DIE SLOWLY BY MARTHA MEDEIROS
He or she who becomes the slave of habit,
who follows the same routines every day,
who never changes brand,
who does not risk and change the color of his/her clothes,
who does not talk to people that he/she doesn’t know
dies slowly.
He or she who shuns passion,
who prefers black to white,
and the dots on the “i” to a whirlpool of emotions,
precisely the ones that make your eyes sparkle,
turn yawns into smiles,
those that make the heart flutter
in the face of error and feelings
dies slowly.
He or she who does not turn things topsy-turvy,
who is unhappy at work or with his/her loved ones but doesn’t do anything about it,
who does not risk certainty for uncertainty
to follow a dream,
who doesn't allow himself/herself
at least once in his/her life
to run away from sensible advice.
dies slowly.
He or she who does not travel,
who does not read,
who does not listen to music,
who does not find grace in himself/herself,
dies slowly.
He or she who slowly destroys his/her self-love,
who does not allow himself or herself to be helped,
who spends days complaining about his/her own bad luck
about the rain that never stops,
dies slowly.
He or she who abandons a project before starting it,
who fails to ask questions on subjects he or she doesn’t know,
he or she who doesn’t reply when they are asked something they do know,
dies slowly.
Let’s avoid death in small doses,
reminding oneself that being alive requires an effort far greater than the simple fact of breathing.
Only ardent patience will lead to the attainment of splendid happiness.
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THIS POEM CONVEYS?
Habits, comfort, routines. Are we really sure we are living the life we want?
Every time I read DIE SLOWLY, I realize that the only way to live life to the fullest and not settle for survival is by stepping out of our comfort zone, where everything is safe, everything is always the same, and there are never any risks - except the biggest risk ever, i.e. not living at all.
It is precisely in the midst of comfort and security, when boredom is dominant and we stop taking risks, that we die slowly.
Days become weeks and weeks become months; before long years have gone by and when looking at the life we have lived we regret wasting it.
While it is true that we all like to have a quiet and certain place to return to, a secure job, and a daily routine, it is also true that it is precisely these things that sometimes become our greatest cage.
A more or less unconscious imprisonment in an apparently "beautiful" world of certainty and tranquility that, despite being protective and reassuring, limits and prevents one from embarking on the most beautiful journey of all, which is living life to the fullest.
Stepping out of our comfort zone gives us a great opportunity to grow, learn, and become the protagonist of our lives, accomplishing the things we have only ever imagined.
A chance to live a better life, closer to who we are and what we want, needless to say, the opportunity to become the best version of ourselves.
Because let's face it; if the comfort zone already offered everything one wanted, what need would there be to wish, hope, and dream of something different?
Anyone who has grown mentally, physically, or spiritually knows that growth is not found in comfort.
Bottom Line:
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. - Neale Donald Walsch
HELP OTHERS GROW, BECOME THEIR BEST SELVES AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
Greater awareness implies greater responsibility.
Once you have begun stepping out of your comfort zone and you have sparked the flame of light within you, you’ll have only one task left.
Helping your fellow human beings to explore the path to awareness too, if they want to.
However, I’ve realized that people often do not want to take such a path; after all, you can't help everyone, but only those who want to be helped.
But, how to help others?
Well, what about sharing the inspiring poem Die Slowly with your friends, family, and the people you care about?
Be inspired and be inspirational!
You rock.
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