You start dying slowly by Pablo Neruda

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.

Brotherhood by Octovio Paz

I am a man: little do I last
and the night is enormous.
But I look up: the stars write.
Unknowing I understand: 
I too am written,
and at this very moment
someone spells me out.

Success by Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Connections by Nancy Wood

Every time we take a breath, we become the universe.
The very moment of creation is contained in us
and passes on to rocks and trees, animals and fish.

The old ones say the essence of life
is in water and wind, earth and breath, fire and bone,
but most of all in breath,
our first connection to the elk, the hawk, the bear, and the buffalo.

Without breath, no connection.
Without connection, no creation.
Without creation, no breath.
This is the sacred circle of life, unbroken.