Aubaid Ahmad Akhoon
Life moves like a gust of wind—unseen, unstoppable. We run alongside it, believing we are in control, yet we are merely passengers in time’s grand design. In our relentless pursuit of success, recognition, and a future that always seems just within reach, we often fail to notice the present slipping away.
Mornings turn into nights, weeks into years, and before we realize it, the hands of the clock have moved too far ahead. We plan for tomorrow, invest in dreams, and chase fleeting desires, assuming there will always be time for love, laughter, and peace. But does time ever wait?
The late Anwar Sadeed, a renowned Pakistani critic, researcher, and columnist, beautifully captured this truth in his couplet:
“Sail-e-zaman mein doob gaye mashhoor-e-zamana log,
Waqt ke munsif ne kab rakha qaa’im un ka naam.”
“The tide of time has drowned even the greatest of names.
When has time’s judgment ever kept their legacy intact?”
The tide of time spares no one—kings, poets, warriors. Once celebrated, now forgotten. Their names, once etched in history, now fade like whispers in the wind. What, then, truly remains? Not wealth, for gold loses its luster. Not power, for thrones crumble into dust. What endures are the moments of kindness we shared, the love we selflessly gave, and the righteous deeds we performed—those that continue to benefit others, becoming our eternal legacy, our sadaqah jariyah.
Yet, in our relentless pursuit of success, we mistake motion for progress, forgetting that life is not measured by the milestones we reach but by the moments we cherish. We chase distant dreams, blind to the beauty already surrounding us—the rustling of leaves whispering secrets to the wind, the silent comfort of a loved one’s presence, the peace found in a whispered prayer. True fulfillment lies not in the relentless race for more but in the quiet embrace of what is already ours.
Another poet beautifully expressed this sentiment:
“Haasil-e-zindagi hasrat ke siwa kuch bhi nahi,
Ye kiya nahi, woh hua nahi, ye mila nahi, woh raha nahi.”
“The essence of life is nothing but longing—
What wasn’t done, what didn’t happen, what wasn’t gained, what was left behind.”
How often do we count our losses instead of cherishing what we have? We mourn unfulfilled dreams, unsaid words, and untaken roads. But do we ever pause to appreciate the love we received, the small joys we lived, and the peace we found in quiet moments?
Live now, before time moves on
Why do we always believe happiness is waiting for us in the future?
We tell ourselves:
“Once I have more money, I’ll be happy.”
“Once I get my dream job, I’ll find peace.”
But what if that one day never comes? What if, in waiting for the perfect moment, we lose the only moments that truly mattered?
This endless pursuit of desires is nothing new. The great Ghalib already captured this reality in his timeless couplet:
“Hazaron Khvahishen aisi ki har khvahish pe dam nikle,
Bahut nikle mire arman lekin phir bhi kam nikle.”
“A thousand desires, each so intense that it could take my last breath away,
Many were fulfilled, yet too few compared to those that remain.”
No matter how much we achieve, our hearts always long for more. We chase after dreams, forgetting to cherish what is already in our hands. But true fulfillment is not in accumulating more—it is in appreciating the beauty of the present moment. Life is happening now. Not in some distant future, not in the memories of the past, but in this exact moment—the laughter of a loved one, the gentle breeze on our face, the warmth of a hug, the beauty of the sky. These little things, often ignored, are the real treasures of life.
Fly high, but keep your feet on the ground
Soar with grace, embrace the sky,
Yet dust we are, and dust we lie.
Ambitions and dreams are important, but not at the cost of losing yourself. Chase your goals, but don’t forget to cherish what you already have. No matter how high we fly, we must remember that one day, we will return to the same earth.
So why let ego and pride consume us? Why not walk with humility and gratitude? Why not focus on love, kindness, and the things that truly matter?
Time invested in relationships is never wasted
We often take our relationships for granted, assuming people will always be there. We prioritize work over family, phone screens over real conversations, and status over emotions. But when time takes these people away from us, we realize too late that we should have given them more of ourselves.
Give time to your loved ones. Listen when they speak. Hold their hands while you can. Apologize before it’s too late. Love them fully, without conditions. Because once they are gone, no amount of regret can bring them back.
Gratitude: The secret to a fulfilled life
Fate gives us what is meant for us, and no force in the world can change that. But are we grateful for what we have? Or do we always focus on what’s missing?
Instead of constantly wanting more, let’s appreciate what’s already in front of us. Let’s stop living in what ifs and somedays and start embracing what is.
Life is not about counting the years—it’s about making the years count. There’s a difference between merely surviving and truly living.
So, before life slips away, pause.
Take a deep breath. Look around. Feel this moment. Live it—because once it’s gone, it will never come back.
(The author is a distinguished educational columnist and motivational speaker. He can be reached at [email protected])
