THE INSTANCE OF LIFE , BY: JEFF KRAJIC
Life insists that we live — not unconsciously, but awake, aware, and attentive to the beauty in every moment.
It invites us to slow down, to feel the crispness of fall leaves beneath our feet, to pause and smell the roses. Too often, we drift through our days like sleepwalkers, moving aimlessly from one task to the next. But life is teaching us — urging us — to open our eyes, to see the wonder in every sunrise and sunset, in every simple act of breathing.
The insistence of life is a call to stop taking the ordinary for granted. It beckons us to rediscover wonder in what we’ve grown accustomed to — the ocean if you live near one, the mountains if they surround you. Life whispers: Stop. Look. Take it in. Cherish the presence of loved ones — the laughter, the silences, the simple nearness of being together. Everything that happens carries meaning — sometimes subtle, sometimes profound — but always there, waiting to be seen.
Kick your feet through the fallen leaves. Run barefoot through the grass. Let the small things awaken you to the larger ones.
Pay attention — whether at work, in class, on a long drive, or in the grocery store. Be fully here. Notice what’s beautiful in the moment you’re living. Find joy in the monotony and the mundane — let yourself be surprised, let yourself wonder.
Even in conflict, even in mistakes — pause and reflect. What is life teaching you through this? What meaning hides within the discomfort? When we reflect, we awaken again to where we are — to our own breath, our own being. We learn what can be controlled in such moments: our breath, our responses, our words, our actions.
Life calls us to say yes more often. There are reasons to say no, but make sure they aren’t excuses. Work out. Go outside. Meet people. Take walks. See a show. Get out of your basement and be among others. Avoid assuming you already know what you like — try new things, new foods, new music, new experiences. Yes, there’s a time to decline, but too often we say no reflexively: I don’t like that kind of music. Line dancing isn’t for me. Camping’s not my thing.
If it won’t kill you, try it again — but this time, with eyes of appreciation.
Because life is warning us: do not take this gift for granted. Do not miss the beauty within the mundane. The same awareness that helps us see beauty also teaches responsibility — that our choices affect the lives of others. Our decisions can either deepen or diminish another person’s capacity to enjoy life’s simple gifts. Think of those overworked, underpaid, or denied rest. Think of those stripped of dignity and rights.
Life calls us to live — not just for ourselves, but with and for others. It’s not enough to insist on personal joy while others suffer. The comfort we enjoy is a reminder of what everyone deserves. Life lures us toward generosity — to widen the circle of joy, to create the conditions where others, too, can breathe, rest, and flourish.
This awareness inevitably shapes our politics. We all know life’s fragility; we all desire to live well. That shared desire calls for shared solutions. Everyone deserves healthcare, housing, nourishment, and dignity. Life insists that we turn our private longing for well-being into public action. With the capacity you’ve been given, respond to the lure of life — widen the enjoyment of life for others, especially those you encounter. Sometimes all it takes is a kind word, a helping hand, a simple hello — an acknowledgment of another’s existence.
To place the burden solely on the individual — to tell people simply to “try harder” — is to ignore the deep interdependence that life reveals. Yes, one can sometimes find meaning in hardship, but it is cruel to leave others there when we have the capacity to help.
The lure of life is not only that we enjoy existence ourselves, but that we extend that enjoyment — to help build a world where others can more easily experience life’s beauty and share in its joys