Not Living in

Have you ever held a picture, faded with time,

A frozen memory in a captured rhyme?

There you are—laughing, glowing, alive,

Yet the moment feels like it didn’t survive.

The faces beam, the sun’s warm glow,

But where was your mind, so long ago?

You see yourself smiling, your joy in full bloom,

Yet your heart feels distant, adrift in the room.

It’s strange to forget what should feel so clear,

Moments of joy, yet they disappear.

Did you let the day slip like sand through your hand,

Focused on elsewhere, unable to land?

And then there’s the drive—familiar, routine,

The hum of the engine, the everyday scene.

You start at point A, and next you arrive,

No memory of roads that kept you alive.

How strange it is to lose pieces of time,

To live, but not feel, like a wordless mime.

Eyes wide open, but your soul stayed blind,

Caught in the haze of a wandering mind.

Life moves swiftly, its moments a blur,

The present dissolves as memories stir.

Distractions abound, stealing today,

While tomorrows pile up in endless array.

But what if you paused—just for a while,

And truly embraced the world with a smile?

To feel every laugh, to taste every tear,

To anchor yourself in the now, right here.

Breathe in the air, let it fill your chest,

Feel the sun’s kiss as it sets in the west.

Listen to footsteps, your heart’s steady beat,

The rustle of leaves, the dance of your feet.

For life is a mosaic, each moment a shard,

Some smooth, some jagged, some deeply scarred.

But every piece matters, every one true,

And the masterpiece forms when you see them through.

So take back your presence, don’t let it stray,

Live fully and freely in every day.

Cherish the mundane, the small and profound,

In the now, life’s fullness is found.

One day you’ll glance at a picture again,

And feel not just joy, but remember when.

Your heart will echo the laughter you see,

A moment once lost, now lives memory-free.

Be the driver who knows every turn,

The flame in the fire, the soul that burns.

Living the moment is the truest art,

A gift to yourself, a place to start.

So slow down your mind, release what’s unspoken,

This life’s a treasure—don’t leave it broken.

Hold each second as if it’s your last token,

For moments lived fully are never forgotten.