Saturday, June 21, 2025

Expanded Meaning:
At the heart of this quote lies a gentle invitation: Don’t close yourself off to what you can’t yet see, predict, or control. Mary Oliver reminds us that not everything meaningful in life comes from planning or logic. Sometimes, the most profound joys, relationships, opportunities, or transformations arrive unannounced.

To “keep some room” in your heart means to remain open—to wonder, to hope, to believe that life might exceed your expectations. This mindset doesn’t require blind optimism, but rather a softening of rigid expectations. It’s a space for the extraordinary to unfold—often in ways that defy your imagination.

This quote encourages humility in the face of life’s mystery. It honors the truth that no matter how much we strategize or prepare, there will always be elements beyond our grasp—unexpected love, sudden healing, unplanned joy, or even a second chance we never dared hope for.

Context and Origin:
Mary Oliver (1935–2019) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning poet known for her deep connection to nature and her ability to translate everyday moments into spiritual reflections. This quote comes from her poem “Evidence,” part of her 2009 collection Evidence. The line sits within a meditation on trust, impermanence, and wonder.

Oliver's work consistently invites readers to pause, observe, and embrace the world with openness and reverence. “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable” reflects her recurring themes: that the sacred and the extraordinary are often found in the quiet corners of life—and that we must remain available to receive them.

Added Value:
This quote is especially relevant in a world that prizes control, predictability, and productivity. It challenges the reader to resist the urge to fill every mental and emotional space with plans, fears, or certainty. By leaving space for the unimaginable, you invite in growth, creativity, and grace.

It’s a reminder to believe in possibilities you can’t yet name—and to welcome life not just as it is, but as it could be.

In Practice:

• Trust that healing can happen in unexpected ways.
  

• Be open to new paths, even if they weren’t part of your original plan.
  

• Let hope live where logic falls short.
  

• Embrace wonder.

The unimaginable might just be the best part of your story.

Resource List:

📚 Books

1. Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver – Mary Oliver
   A comprehensive collection of Oliver’s most cherished works, including “Evidence,” which contains the featured quote.
   

2. The Book of Awakening – Mark Nepo
   A daily guide to living with presence and wonder, encouraging openness to the unexpected.
   

3. The Art of Possibility – Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander
   A transformative book on shifting mindset to embrace unforeseen opportunities and breakthroughs.
   

4. When Things Fall Apart – Pema Chödrön
   A compassionate guide to accepting life’s uncertainty and cultivating the courage to remain open-hearted.
   

🎧 Talks & Interviews

1. “Mary Oliver on Being” – On Being with Krista Tippett
   A rare and moving interview where Oliver discusses creativity, nature, and what it means to stay open to life.
   

2. TED Talk: “The Art of Stillness” by Pico Iyer
   Explores the importance of slowing down and creating internal space for reflection and the unexpected.
   

✍️ Poems & Essays

1. “Evidence” – by Mary Oliver
   The full poem where the quote originates. A reflective and spiritual piece about faith, mystery, and beauty.
   

2. “The Summer Day” – by Mary Oliver
   Famous for its closing line, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”—this poem echoes themes of awe and the unpredictable gifts of life.
   

🌿 Reflection & Journaling Prompts

• When was the last time something beautiful surprised you?
  

• What part of your life could benefit from more openness or trust?
  

• Where do you tend to resist the unknown—and what would happen if you leaned into it?