{"id":1561,"date":"2020-12-07T06:45:17","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T06:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emmyofthelou.com\/?p=1561"},"modified":"2024-02-07T19:41:19","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T01:41:19","slug":"alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emmyofthelou.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/07\/alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Alive – Some Thoughts On What It Means"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.<\/p>\nVincent Van Gogh<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

So here I am, 11 pm on a Sunday, writing about what it feels like to be alive. I’ve been experiencing significant breathing issues this past week. I won’t go into details, except that everything is fine. I was checked out by a doctor and all is well. Which is frustrating during a time like this. Maybe it’s a cold or allergies, or anxiety? Regardless, all I can say is thank god it’s not COVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But these breathing issues got me thinking…what a funny sensation it is to feel anxious and afraid, yet alive at the same time. I often spend my days disregarding my breath and speeding through life. As a result, I’m unappreciative of every breath I take and every step my heart takes to keep me going, day after day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meditation is helpful. So I do it when I can and I take notice of my breath. Sometimes I’m guided to thank my body for it’s ability to keep me alive, but not always. Most of the time, simply being aware of my breath in meditation comes with an unspecified gratitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That unknown, unawareness of our breath on a day to day basis doesn’t really matter though. Despite our awareness, our breath still signals to the unconscious parts of our brains that we are alive. Yet in order to FEEL alive, we have to be aware of our breath, our fears, and simply- our humanness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alive: Definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. “(of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead.”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. “continuing in existence or use.”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. “(of a person or animal) alert and active; animated.”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. “having interest and meaning.”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    I looked up these definitions to get a better understanding of what it means to be alive on a basic level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n