Life is a Gift to be Unwrapped One Moment at a Time.
In this gift of life inspirational story, a quiet morning by the sea in Northern Ireland becomes a powerful reminder to live fully and treasure every moment.
Life Lessons & Key Themes From This Story
- Every moment is a gift - pause to savour it before it slips quietly into memory.
- Taking daily time for reflection helps surface the wisdom we need to live better.
- Nature has a way of speaking to the soul, offering guidance in the stillness.
- Honouring those who’ve gone before us reminds us to live with love, courage & truth.
- Let go of petty troubles and the weight of others’ expectations. Choose what matters.
- Gratitude for what we have right now is the foundation for a deeply lived life.
đź“Ť From Northern Ireland: A powerful story that adds to our global collection of inspiring narratives.
As my travel days in Northern Ireland come to an end, I take my last walk along the water’s edge at Helen's Bay and listen for whispers hidden in her seas. I’m seeking a place of solace, a quiet moment of reflection, my own deep-and-meaningful with nature.
Three days of strategic planning with Bernadette and the team was fun, but I’ll admit, I’d been so wrapped up in new projects, action lists and content plans, that I hadn’t taken my usual time out for prayer and contemplation. I was missing my daily inspired time.
Taking Time to Listen to Life's Wisdom
Part of living a daily inspired life is making space to reflect on life’s important questions and then being open to the guidance that comes from deep within. Questions like: “In this moment, what am I doing? What am I feeling? Why am I doing this? What’s it all for? Do I want to continue doing this?”
For me, this reflection time is a quiet conversation with nature and the life-giving force that flows through trees, seas, sky, and every living thing. It’s where I lay it all out and listen for answers held deep within. Whatever form it takes, it's that moment when we can draw upon the wisdom our souls already know.
... it's that moment when we can draw upon the wisdom our souls already know.
I wander along the path between the beach and golf course, past overhanging trees and the occasional friendly face walking their dog. As I turn into the curve and take the narrower pathway, the trees hang heavy, creating a shadow. I shiver and wrap my arms across my chest to keep myself warm.
Turning another corner, I see an open grassy green space leading right to the rock face edge of the water. A lonely bench beckons me over. I walk across the wet grass toward the empty bench, and I see there’s an inscription:
"A peaceful place to rest a while
Dee McCartan 1990-2012
Love and Missed Always"
Waves splash against the rocks, their spray leaping like water trumpets, as if welcoming me to this sacred place. I bow my head and sit down, taking my place on Dee's bench overlooking the ocean. It’s the perfect spot for my morning contemplation.
A Reminder to Live Fully, While We Can
I think about Dee, a young Irish person I never knew. What were they like? Did they enjoy their time on this planet while they were here? I think about their family and what they must have suffered. I wonder how many times they’d sat in the very place I am sitting now.
I sat there in Dee’s space, thankful to experience the beauty of Ireland that this young person could enjoy no longer. I breathed in the ocean air, and a tear slipped down my cheek. Though Dee had passed at such a young age, their memory continued to speak …
Life is a Gift to Be Unwrapped One Moment at a Time
“While we have breath in our lungs, it's our privilege to live. Our life is a gift.
Treasure your life. Don't waste a moment on petty troubles. Don’t waste your
time on work you don’t enjoy. Live each moment like it’s a privilege.
Say sorry. Forgive. Don't let someone's opinion deter you from fully living,
don't let people dictate your beliefs, how you feel or think or act.
Don’t let society or the masses tell you how you should live.
Live life with love and truth, full of appreciation for
what you have right now, this very moment.”
Author: Meet Karletta Marie
Hi - I’m the founder of Daily Inspired Life - a space to share real-life stories that uplift, connect, heal, and transform lives. Born in Australia and now living in Cyprus, I believe in the power of narrative to change lives, build bridges, and bring more understanding into the world.
Daily Inspired Life began as a personal project and has grown into a global community of people who are actively creating a better life for themselves - and a better world for others.
It’s a space for those willing to share their truth, reflect deeply, and find meaning in both the light and shadows of life. Here, as a community, we honour everyday voices and the quiet, extraordinary courage it takes to live, to grow, and to tell your story.
I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or join our community of story lovers - people just like you, seeking more meaning, connection, and joy in everyday life.
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Photo by Xavier Smet
Northern Ireland is beautiful I so want to visit it someday.
Love this. I wonder, when people place markers like that on a bench, if they realize how they may affect other people’s lives?
It’s a very descriptive and imaginative post! There’s much to reflect upon… inspiring!!
Such a special moment, thanks for capturing this!
Thank you for sharing such an emotional moment! It is so important to take a moment to reflect and wonder I think.
Wonderful heart felt post. The way you described everything I imagined being there also right next to you.
Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this powerful and emotional post. The way you felt must have been something akin to the way I felt when I visited the Iwo Jima Monument in Harligen. I felt so honored, humble and grateful as I sat there thinking about the soldiers who have died to keep us safe and free. A great reminder to treasure every moment.
Thank you Ava … it sounds like you had a special moment of reflection. If you’d like to share your story on Daily Inspired Life – let me know, we like to publish stories that change us in someway.
This was very powerful! I enjoyed reading this!! Wow. Thank you for the reminder to take time to reflect on life and our surroundings; it’s difficult sometimes, we get caught up in daily life and the hustle and bustle and forget.
What a beautiful and touching post. I enjoyed reading this so much – and really felt the emotion.