25.40 Dying Slowly

The 77% Weekly

The 40/52-weeks-a-year, quick-reading, thought-lingering, spiritual-religious newsletter.

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25/40
From the desk of Rabbi Brian

The poem “Muere Lentamente” (Dying Slowly) is attributed to Pablo Neruda.
(It is worth printing out and reading a few times, even if Neruda didn’t write it.)

—

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job,
or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…

—

Spiritual-religious advice of the week: reverse the dying process! Promise yourself that you will do one of those things mentioned above that will keep you alive!

With love,

Rabbi Brian