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| Illustration by R.E. Slater and ChatGPT |
What Dies Within Us While We Live
by R.E. Slater
Death is not the greatest loss in life -
the greatest loss,
is what dies inside of us,
while we still live.
It is in how we speak to one another -
or how we do not speak,
not in the truths we soften,
nor the trembling silences we keep.
But in the violence that has numbed us -
the images we scroll past,
the soulless disturbances we feel,
is what dies inside of us,
while we still live.
It is in how we speak to one another -
or how we do not speak,
not in the truths we soften,
nor the trembling silences we keep.
But in the violence that has numbed us -
the images we scroll past,
the soulless disturbances we feel,
that can no longer can be named.
There are so many things that numb us daily -
the small surrenders we make,
the barely noticed we chose not to see,
There are so many things that numb us daily -
the small surrenders we make,
the barely noticed we chose not to see,
the unwanted thoughts that flood us.
It is not only in the wounds we suffer -
but the parts of ourselves we have laid down,
to just keep moving,
It is not only in the wounds we suffer -
but the parts of ourselves we have laid down,
to just keep moving,
in-and-out of each moment.
We lose when kindness goes unspoken -
when truth is withheld for comfort,
when injustice is ignored,
We lose when kindness goes unspoken -
when truth is withheld for comfort,
when injustice is ignored,
when indifference holds our tongues.
We lose something when we stop feeling -
when we no longer expect goodness,
when we forget how to be moved,
when we no longer expect goodness,
when we forget how to be moved,
when our tears have dried up.
And in the numbing traces there remains -
And in the numbing traces there remains -
a memory of who we once were,
before we learned to close ourselves off,
to cease to feel.
Something that waits within us -
restless,
undying,
angry at our silence.
To live deeply is to awaken -
to feel deeply not merely endure,
to participate in life around us,
to remain no longer silent.
To gently,
deliberately,
learn to speak.
learn to speak.
These would be words enough.
Words one might live by.
R.E. Slater
April 16, 2026
@copyright R.E. Slater Publications
all rights reserved
Authors Note
There are so many things in life that numb us daily, that quiet the better voice within us, that teach us to look away when we should look closer; to harden ourselves when we were meant to remain open.
They are not only the wounds we suffer, but the parts of ourselves we surrender in order to keep moving through pain and hardship.
Yet we lose something when kindness goes unspoken, when truth is withheld for comfort, when injustice goes ignored.
We lose something when we stop listening to each other's pain, when we no longer expect goodness from one another, when we forget how to be moved, to feel, to ache.
But know that what has quieted in our souls has not left. Even in the numbing, there remains a trace, a memory, of who we were before we learned from others how to close ourselves off.
And perhaps the deeper work of living is not merely to learn to endure and be numb - but to notice when we have gone silent within, and gently, deliberately, begin to speak again.
To feel - and be willing to awakened to harm that truth, beauty, and love might live again.
