Life Is on Loan – Cherish the Now

I had a thought recently while out walking: once we come into possession of something, it’s almost as if its purpose has already begun. From the moment we receive it, it starts its journey toward serving us – and eventually, toward letting go. Clothes fade, food spoils, relationships evolve, and material things lose their shine. Even we, as human beings, are not permanent. We are simply passing through this world – here to experience, to learn, to grow, and to leave our mark.

Life’s true purpose is not in what we own or collect, but in how we live. We are here to appreciate, to give, to receive, to be kind, to be understanding, and to show compassion – both to ourselves and to others. We are here to embrace our uniqueness instead of comparing ourselves to others. Most importantly, we must never look down on anyone. No title, no career, no status makes us greater than another. Every single person and every path has meaning.

If you’ve ever passed by a landfill, you’ll know what I mean. Every broken item, every discarded piece of furniture, every bag of waste – once upon a time, that was someone’s dream. Someone saved for it, worked for it, maybe even shed blood, sweat, and tears for it. But now, it has served its purpose and moved on. Just like everything else, it was only ever on loan.

And so it is with life itself. Everything we have right now – every possession, every relationship, even this very breath – is temporary. We can either spend our days wishing for what we don’t have, or we can wake up to the fact that happiness is available in this very moment. It’s not in the “what ifs” or “when I haves.” It’s in the now.

One blink, and this life could be taken from us. That truth isn’t meant to scare us – it’s meant to wake us up. To remind us that life is short, but it can be beautiful if we choose to live it fully.

When my time comes, I want to be able to say: I enjoyed my life. I loved deeply. I appreciated the little things. And I lived without regret.

So here is my invitation to you: stop waiting for the perfect time, or the next achievement, or the “thing” that will finally make you happy. Life is happening right now. Everything you hold, everything you love, everything you are – it’s all a gift on loan.

Make it count. Make it meaningful. And above all, make it a good time.