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What does it mean to live fully—not someday, not when things calm down, not when the stars finally align—but now, in this lifetime? That question sat at the heart of my recent Rise to More conversation with my dear friend, writer, and kindred spirit, Jill Palmquist. Jill’s stunning book, In This Lifetime, is part coffee-table art, part spiritual companion—a love letter to being alive. Through words, photography, and quiet wisdom, she invites us to pause, to breathe, and to ask the questions that truly matter: Why are we here? And what will we do with our time?
What I love about Jill is her reverence for the small. She can turn a stray chin hair into poetry. A morning walk into prayer. A shared laugh into a meditation on grace. She reminds us that meaning isn’t something we chase—it’s something we notice. Life’s depth lives not in grand gestures but in micro-moments: sunlight on your coffee, a stranger’s kindness, the warmth of your dog curled at your feet. This isn’t romantic idealism—it’s training your eyes to see. It’s remembering that joy, like air, is always available if we stop long enough to breathe it in.
“Meaning isn’t hidden—it’s happening right in front of you.”
One of the most profound parts of our conversation was Jill’s distinction between chronos and kairos—two very different ways of living time. Chronos is clock time: the deadlines, the calendars, the never-ending lists. Kairos is sacred time: the eternal moment that lives within every moment, if we have the courage to notice. When we live in kairos, five minutes can stretch into forever. Washing dishes can become worship. A quiet glance across a crowded room can hold the weight of a lifetime. That is how Jill lives. Not rushing toward the next thing, but opening to what is.
“When we live in kairos, even five minutes can last a lifetime.”
We talked about aging—about learning to make peace with our changing bodies and finding levity in what life offers us. Jill believes humor is one of our most powerful spiritual tools. “If we can’t laugh at ourselves,” she said, “we’re missing the whole point.” In a world obsessed with youth and achievement, she offers a radical antidote: gentleness. What if we wore life, as her father used to say, “like a loose garment”? Letting go. Softening. Making space for joy, for rest, for the messy, miraculous middle.
Jill also shared stories of her late father—his wisdom, his laughter, his belief in the power of gathering. He taught her that friendship and joy are not luxuries. They are the very essence of a good life. It made me think of how often we save our best selves for special occasions. What if the special occasion is now?
“Stop saving your joy for someday. Someday is happening right now.”
This conversation wasn’t theoretical—it was an invitation. A call to reclaim our presence from the chaos. To return to the simplicity of being here. Because living fully isn’t about doing more—it’s about being awake to what’s already happening. It doesn’t take a silent retreat or a life overhaul. Sometimes it’s five mindful minutes in the shower. Sometimes it’s looking out your window and really seeing the light. Sometimes it’s choosing laughter over worry, surrender over striving.
As Jill said so beautifully:
“In this lifetime, let’s do it all. Let’s move through this world and have a really good time while we’re doing it.”
So today, pause. Take a breath. Notice something beautiful right where you are. That’s it. That’s what it means to live—in this lifetime.
Follow Jill and read her stories on Substack:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ohthatjill
Substack: jillpalmquist.substack.com
Buy her book: https://inthislifetime.life
With love and gratitude,Jasna
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