In the Wake of Loss: Life’s Impermanence

My best friend’s sister passed away recently. She was like a sister to me, and their family treated me as one of their own. She was in her prime years, still young, and her death came as a shock. She was healthy, with a much healthier routine than mine and no vices. I cried when I found out, until I fell asleep, and woke up in tears the next day. It hurts deeply, and I feel immense sadness. I still vividly remember the days when their family and I drove her to the airport for her trip to Taiwan, and now she is gone. I know that I should find solace in the thought that she is in a better place now, but that doesn’t always ease the pain. Maybe because her passing also reminds me that life can end suddenly, without warning.

I have been trying to figure out for the longest time: what is the greatest force in the universe created by God? A force that can drastically change your life. Is it courage? Hope, maybe? Perhaps, love?

Oftentimes we procrastinate. We keep on delaying tasks that need to be done. Always saying, ‘I will do it tomorrow’ or ‘I will do it next week’. And the most popular of all, ‘There’s always tomorrow.’ If your day didn’t go as planned, ‘Tomorrow is another day!’ This implies a promise of hope and that everything will be okay. But what if one day there is no more tomorrow? In reality, tomorrow is neither certain nor promised.

TIME… time is the greatest and most significant force in existence. It was such a bi*ch! Did you notice how ironically, when we were young, we wished to grow up quickly?. But now that we are older, we wish we could slow down time or even pause it. The unfortunate reality is, as hurtful as it bites, there is no slow motion or pause button. Life just goes on until it doesn’t.

So you see, your time in this world is very short. Buy the clothes, bags, and
shoes that you like. Make time for your loved ones and friends. Tell them you love them all the time. Pursue your passions and do whatever makes you happy. Do it today — not tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. Do it NOW! Live your life to the fullest and without regrets because you never know when your time is up.

Tick… tock… tick… tock!