The One Thing We Live For (And Why We Often Miss It)

Hello to all my regular readers, and a warm welcome to those joining for the first time!

This is the third issue of Think About It. If you missed the first two issues, then you can read them here and here.

A few thoughts before we actually uncover the meaning behind this issue’s beautiful quote:

What I love about poetry is that it’s filled with timeless wisdom. The poets may or may not have intended for their pieces to stand the test of time. But usually, what they say/write stays relevant.

Social media is full of brain-rot content that has a very short shelf life. Most of what you see or read today will be irrelevant tomorrow or after a week.

That’s why I believe all of us should consume some poetry from time to time. Because it will stay relevant no matter how much time passes.

And poetry doesn’t have any ‘target audience’. It’s for everyone.

And it’s strange that poetry somehow finds its way to whoever is in need.

Now, let’s think about Kahlil Gibran’s quote because meaning isn’t always obvious.

The first sentence is relatively easier to understand. Gibran is basically saying that the main purpose of our lives, the core reason we're here, is to find and appreciate "beauty."

In other words, the point of being alive is to notice, feel, and relish beautiful moments.

The depth in this first part is in the word ‘beauty’.

What does beauty mean here?

He’s not just talking about sunsets and flowers. Also, it's probably not just about pretty faces or nice landscapes.

You just can’t reduce poetry to surface-level things. And you have to realise that beauty is subjective. So, it is whatever you define it or whatever definition you follow.

Now, for a poet like Kahlil Gibran, ‘beauty’ could mean:

• Aesthetic beauty: Yes, art, nature, music, things that are pleasing to our senses.

• Inner beauty: The beauty of character, kindness, compassion, truth, and wisdom.

• The beauty of understanding: Discovering new ideas, connecting dots, having "aha!" moments about how the world works.

• The beauty of experience: The richness of life itself, in all its forms – love, joy, even the quiet moments of reflection.

Essentially, anything that elevates our spirit or reveals a deeper truth about existence.
So, to “discover beauty” is to:

• Feel something deeply real.

• Be moved, changed, or awakened by what you see, feel, or experience.

Simple and honest reflections on the works of the best creative minds—straight in your inbox, once a week.

Now, the second sentence is where it gets a bit tricky. Gibran implies that if we're not actively engaged in discovering this kind of beauty (in all its forms), then whatever else we're doing is just... "waiting."

What does “waiting” imply here?

Here, waiting could mean multiple things:

• Passivity: This is when we're not truly living or participating fully. When we're just biding our time, perhaps hoping something will happen to us rather than seeking it out.

• Lack of purpose: If the main purpose is beauty, and if we are not seeking beauty, then we are not aligned with our purpose. And so whatever we are doing will feel meaningless.

• Unfulfillment: It implies that activities not centred on the discovery and appreciation of beauty are ultimately unfulfilling or less significant.

Think about the many things we do in life that might feel like "waiting":

• Mindlessly doing a repetitive task without engagement.

• Worrying about the future instead of being present.

• Chasing superficial things that don't truly nourish the soul.

• Just passing time.

We get so engrossed in such things that we don’t focus on discovering beauty, let alone appreciating it. That’s why doing these things feels like unfulfillment.

An alternative interpretation of this quote could be that we only ‘live’ when we are experiencing beauty. That is to say, doing something with a purpose or something meaningful.

And when we are not doing that, then we are just ‘waiting’ to live.

Why is this relevant today?

Gibran's quote is arguably more relevant now than ever. Here’s why:

Consumerism and the pursuit of "more": Our society and culture often promote happiness through acquiring more possessions, achieving certain status symbols, or chasing external validation.

Gibran directly challenges that narrative. He suggests that true fulfilment isn't found in accumulating material things or chasing fleeting trends, but in the discovery and appreciation of beauty (in its broad sense).

The endless cycle of wanting more can feel like a perpetual "waiting" for happiness that never fully arrives because it's tied to external and impermanent things.

Information overload and superficiality: We're bombarded with information daily. Usually, it is shallow or negative. And we usually skim, react quickly, and move on without truly processing or appreciating.

Gibran, however, encourages us to slow down and look beneath the surface. He’s telling us to seek depth and meaning in a world that often prioritises speed and superficiality.

The "beauty" he speaks of requires presence and discernment, qualities often eroded by constant digital consumption.

What can we learn from this?

• Be fully present: Don’t let life pass by. Immerse yourself in moments, people, and experiences.

• Know what moves you: Identify what evokes awe and meaning for you, then pursue it with intention.

• Consume with purpose: Choose content, things, and experiences that enrich your life, not just fill it.

• Break the ‘waiting’ habit: Turn idle moments into meaningful ones—create, connect, or reflect.

• Value inner wealth: Measure richness by depth of experience, not material gain.

A question for you before I wrap up:
When did you last "discover beauty" in an unexpected place?
(No need to tell me. Just something to reflect on.)

Do you agree with the explanation?
Do you think we live too little and wait too much and too often?

That’s all for this week.
I will see you again next week with a new quote!

Till then
Stay curious

Zaid

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