Living life can be messy, beautiful, uplifting, and soul crushing. Eric Johnson brings these emotions and more to life in his debut collection. The Conditions We Live follows a loose narrative of growing up in modern society where we are constantly torn between our better and baser natures, how to live in an increasingly fractured world, and how to find solace in the moments. When the big picture looks bleak, the moment holds a transcendent beauty nonetheless. With approachable poems about everyday life, this collection intends to open the moments we live to find a mindful presence in our lives. Beginning with images of traveling and discovery, the collection descends into chaotic and sometimes poignant moments of growing up, no matter what our age, ultimately leading to an understanding of self and purpose. Whether you read from cover to cover, or simply dip into the middle, the poems in this collection provide a slice of life, a moment in which there is beauty to explore.