Relish Fleeting Moments

We all understand that life is fleeting and that this is the ultimate truth, yet we seldom pause to truly acknowledge it. One moment, we are enjoying our life, laughing and talking. Next, an unexpected accident, tumble down the stairs, or a sudden illness can end it all. People cease to exist in both dramatic and mundane manner and mortality does not discriminate between age, wealth, or status. It is the universal truth, yet we think we are immortal, endlessly postponing reflection, connection, and the things that truly matter.

We are reminded about the fragility as well as the gift of life via spiritual leaders, writers and philosophers. The Latin phrase “memento mori,” meaning “remember that you must die”, is meant to awaken one’s soul. It reminds us that life is beautiful because it is temporary. In the movie Holy Man, Eddie Murphy shares a profound reflection on life: “Seventy-five winters. That’s how much time you get, if you’re lucky. Seventy-five winters, springs, summers, and autumns. When you look at it like that, it’s not a lot of time, is it? Don’t waste it. Step away from the rat race, forget the superficial things, and focus on what matters right now. 

You could be loving more, taking chances, living more, spending time with family, and connecting with the part of you that lives instead of fears. That’s where true fortune lies.” Knowing all this, we still believe that our future is guaranteed, and we work without reflection to achieve materialistic desires. We postpone reconciliation, delay expressions of love and chase unrealistic goals. We do not know the day, hour or second of our last words. Our last breath may come with sudden experience or quietly in sleep. Just like the mirror only shows the truth, life is something you need to reflect upon. And that realisation is not meant to paralyse us, but to ignite a sense of urgency, a call to live deliberately, meaningfully, and fully.

Awareness and happiness are the keys to beating fear and embracing life’s fragility. Even the most ordinary events, such as sharing a meal, a good conversation and an evening walk, should be savoured. It means recognising the beauty in fleeting moments and the depth in simple experiences. It means acting with kindness, expressing gratitude, and nurturing relationships, because these are the threads that endure beyond the inevitable end.

Control over life is an illusion, but it should not keep us from living our best. Because it is not about how long we live, but how fully we embrace life. The brevity of life makes joy more urgent, compassion more critical, and love more necessary. Every season we are given an ample of opportunity to be present, to be awake, and to live with courage and intention.

Living with freedom by fulfilling our duty, without burden, is the ultimate goal of this mortal life. The freedom to choose how we spend our time and how we treat others is the most valuable experience. Life well lived is the greatest gift we can give ourselves, which is its own kind of immortality. We cannot stop the inevitable, but we can choose to make our journey vibrant, deliberate, jolly and rich with purpose.