My Soul is in a Hurry by Mário de Andrade

If your life feels smooth and uneventful, this is worth pausing for. Take a moment to reflect on this beautiful poem by Mário de Andrade, My Soul Is in a Hurry. It reminds us to cherish maturity and to live fully — meeting life’s storms and challenges with courage so we can find peace and fulfilment.

My Soul Is in a Hurry

I counted my years and realized
I have less time to live than I have already lived.
I have more past than future.

I feel like a boy with a bowl of cherries:
At first, he devoured them carelessly.
But when he saw there were only a few left,
he began to savor each one with care and delight.

I no longer have time for endless meetings —
debating rules, procedures, and regulations
that lead to nothing.

I no longer have time to tolerate absurd people
who, despite their age, have not matured.

I have no patience for mediocrity.
I do not want to join conversations
where inflated egos strut and parade.
I cannot stand manipulators or opportunists.
I am tired of the envious —
those who discredit the capable
in hopes of taking their place
and claiming their talent and success.

My time is too precious to waste on trivial headlines.
I seek what matters.
My soul is in a hurry —
there aren’t many cherries left.

I want to live close to those who are truly human —
people who laugh at their own flaws,
who are humble despite their achievements,
who take responsibility for their actions.
People who defend dignity and truth,
and who stand upright when it matters most.

I want to be surrounded by people
who know how to touch hearts —
those who have been shaped by life’s hard blows
yet have learned gentleness of spirit.

Yes, I am in a hurry.
I want to live with the intensity
that only maturity can bring.
I do not intend to waste any of my remaining cherries.
I know the ones left will taste sweeter
than all those I’ve eaten so far.

My goal is simple:
to reach the end content and at peace —
with myself, with those I love,
and with my conscience.

We have two lives.
The second begins the moment you realize
you only have one.

Takeaway

Life passes faster than we realize. We waste too much time on ego, conflict, and things that do not truly matter. My Soul Is in a Hurry is a call to pause, savor the “cherries” we have left, and live with purpose, kindness, and gratitude. Focus on what enriches your soul — meaningful relationships, honesty, and joy — so that when you reach the end, you can be at peace with how you lived. PRIME

Author

  • PRIME is a bi-monthly health and lifestyle magazine for those aged 40 and above. Published since 2006 by Spring Publishing, it features inspiring cover stories of celebrities, as well as other health and lifestyle information. Prime has also featured leading celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Mary Buffett, and many others.

    Each issue contains a Special Feature that covers a specific theme or topic, a Cover Story, an Ask the Doctor section (where doctors answer readers’ questions), Nutrition and Well-being segments, and Leisure and Lifestyle content.

    Celebrate your best years with Prime today!

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