To be, or not to be - the famous question from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. But what is Hamlet truly asking? What does it mean to be?

We are human beings, living, breathing, and experiencing. The term “be-ing” implies an active state of existence. By living and experiencing, we embody what it means to be human. Every thought, emotion, and action stems from this state of “being.”

When people say they’re “being made to feel” a certain way or that they’re “being driven crazy,” they highlight the influence of their environments. But beneath these phrases lies a deeper truth: being simply means to exist. At this very moment you are reading these words - you are actively “being.” Simultaneously, I am “being” as I write. Each of us is always in a state of being, surrounded by others who are also experiencing life in their own way.

So what is the nature of being? To be is to participate in the world, to feel, and to exist fully. Without this state, there is nothing. To “not be” would mean the absence of thought, emotion, and experience - the absence of life itself.

This might sound like a philosophical loop, but it underscores an important realization. Every feeling, every frustration, and every joy stems from the fact that we are alive and engaged with the world. Even when we are overwhelmed, stressed, or angry, these emotions reflect our capacity to feel. They remind us of our existence and its significance.

It’s easy to forget this. Life often pulls us into routines or burdens us with stress. We may grow resentful of challenges or feel weighed down by our emotions. But those very challenges and emotions are proof of life’s richness. To feel anything is a privilege of being.

So, the next time you catch yourself caught up in work, lost in thought, or simply existing in the moment, pause and reflect. You are being. To be is a gift - a chance to experience, to connect, and to live. Without it, there is nothing. And that makes every moment, no matter how small, inherently meaningful.