To be, or not to be… that is the question.

A quote from Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play. Never before have I thought about this phrase quite like I am tonight.

I’ve always thought of this phrase as a heady consideration—an ultimately existential question.

Am I real and here or am I not real, which inevitably means I can’t be here.

But what if it means more than simply am I here or not?

What if it is about the “how” of our here-ness?

Like this: To be a kind friend or not to be… that is the question.

You see what I’m getting at?

The phrase then becomes a personal inventory prompt, right?

Let’s try a few of the questions, then.

To be generous or not to be generous? To be gracious and merciful or not to be?

To be thankful and attentive to blessings or not to be?

To be kind or not to be. To be faithful and true or not. To be given to spiritual pursuits or not. To be a continuous learner or not. To be intentional about how a day is spent or not. To be respectful, honoring others as sacred beings or not. To be a caregiver for creation or not. To be a dancer, a dreamer, an artist, a thinker. To be scientific, theological, philosophical, or thoughtful. To be uninhibited, free, exploring or to be reserved, contained, and limited. To be judgy or accepting.

That’s enough to get thoughts churning, isn’t it?

Maybe it’s not about existing.

Maybe it is about how we choose to exist.

Perhaps that’s the question?