Don't just live the length of your life - live the width of it as well.
Diane AckermanRead
In rare moments of deep play, we can lay aside our sense of self, shed time's continuum, ignore pain, and sit quietly in the absolute present, watching the world's ordinary miracles. No mind or heart hobbles. No analyzing or explaining. No questing for logic. No promises. No goals. No relationships. No worry. One is completely open to whatever drama may unfold.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the beauty of being fully present in the moment, free from distractions and concerns.
Diane Ackerman's quote reflects on the transformative power of deep play, a state where we transcend our individual identities and temporal worries to experience life as it unfolds. In this frame of mind, we appreciate the simple, yet profound miracles of everyday existence without the interference of our thoughts or societal expectations. It encourages us to embrace the present, enjoy spontaneity, and connect with the world around us in a more genuine and unfiltered way.
Themes
PresencePlayMindfulnessMiraclesNow
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation workshop, the facilitator used this quote to highlight the importance of being fully present.
More from Diane Ackerman
All quotes →We try to exile ourselves more and more from nature - not always consciously: We build houses; we dismiss nature; nature has to be outside, because we're inside. God forbid something like a cockroach comes inside, or some dust.
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We ogle plants and animals up close on television, the Internet and in the movies. We may not worship the animals we see, but we still regard them as necessary physical and spiritual companions. Technological nature can't completely satisfy that yearning.
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Because IQ tests favor memory skills and logic, overlooking artistic creativity, insight, resiliency, emotional reserves, sensory gifts, and life experience, they can't really predict success, let alone satisfaction.
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American writer_x000D_ _x000D_ 1803-1882_x000D_ _x000D_ Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.
Diane AckermanRead
There is a way of beholding nature which is a form of prayer, a way of minding something with such clarity and aliveness that the rest of the world recedes. It . . . gives the brain a small vacation.
Diane AckermanRead
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