LIFE is it about Love Is For Everyone? Live In Full Energy? Life is Facing Everything. Or could it mean Laughter, Inspiration, Friendship, and Experiences? We can create countless full forms for the word “LIFE,” but will they ever fully capture what life is truly about? Most likely, the answer is No.
The aspects and importance of life vary for everyone, and it’s impossible to agree universally on what really matters. For most of us, life begins to take a serious turn around the age of 35 to 40. It’s in this phase that many of us reflect on where we’ve invested our time and energy. Before this, life often feels like a race—fast-paced, goal-driven, and less thoughtful than it should be.
But my point isn’t that we should spend our entire lives in constant seriousness from the moment we are born. Life isn’t just about chasing achievements, setting goals, and focusing so hard on them that we forget to truly live. Yet, it’s crucial to strike a balance and decide wisely what deserves our time, energy, and love.
The Big Question
How do we figure out what truly matters? What should take first place on our priority list, and what can wait? Is there a reminder, a tool, or a guiding light that can help us make the right choices?
I believe there is. Imagine this: Regardless of your age—18, 30, 40, or 80—you suddenly discover you have just a few minutes of life left. You’re taking your final breaths. What will you wish for in that moment?
If you’re a sports person, will you ask to bring all your trophies to see them one last time? If you’re an actor, will you want to watch your award-winning performances again? If you’re a businessman or a shopkeeper, will you want to gaze at your earnings, degrees, or certificates? Or perhaps visit the luxurious house that symbolizes your life’s hard work?
A Moment of Reflection
Close your eyes and ask yourself: What would I want to see in my final moments?
This question holds the answer to what truly matters in your life. The things you’ll wish for in that fleeting moment are the things that should already be on your priority list. For me, and likely for most of you, the answer won’t be material achievements or possessions. It’ll be a person we love, someone we care deeply about.
We’ll want to see them. To feel their presence one last time.
A Personal Experience
Let me share a story that left a profound impact on me. In another blog post titled “Haven’t You Cried Yet?” I mentioned a disabled woman and my husband’s aunt, a remarkable woman whose life reflected the essence of love and selflessness.
She had no children. She adopted her sister’s daughter and a son from her brother-in-law, becoming a mother to them in every way that mattered. Her life wasn’t easy, She took care of her husband for 15 years because he was suffering from an illness that left him bedridden. Her children got married and settled in their lives, and she lived with us in the village.
And in the final years of her life, she too became paralyzed. For almost 10 years before her death, she spent her days bedridden, completely dependent on others.
When she was on her deathbed, she was no longer aware of the world around her. In those moments, her subconscious thoughts revealed what truly mattered to her. whenever I stood beside her, she would call out her daughter’s name. When my husband was near, she thought he was her son, speaking to him as though he had been by her side all along.
It was heartbreaking that the two people she loved and nurtured the most weren’t there in her final moments. This experience reminded me how, at the end of life, it’s not our possessions or accomplishments we long for but the presence of those we hold dear.
The True Essence of Life
If you think deeply, at that moment, we all long for love and connection. Life’s true essence lies in relationships, but unfortunately, we spend most of our lives chasing everything else—careers, wealth, and recognition—while neglecting the one thing that truly matters.
I would like to share a link over here where one of the superstars of Bollywood Amir Khan speaks about his negligence for his whole life just to chase stardom, hard work, and dedication for his films but what he lost was his family. Must watch it.
We overlook our loved ones, the people who would stand by us no matter what. Sometimes, we prioritize the world over a single relationship that could have brought us peace and joy for a lifetime.
The story of my husband’s aunt serves as a gentle reminder. She wasn’t wealthy, nor did she achieve worldly fame. But her life was rich with love and sacrifice. She left behind not trophies or accolades but the memory of a heart that loved deeply.
On the other hand, Amir Khan has everything—stardom, fame, and trophies—but he lacks the most important thing: family. So, what truly defines success? Is success really worth it if you lose what matters most?
A Gentle Reminder
This post isn’t about dismissing ambition, success, or goals. These are important aspects of life, but they shouldn’t come at the cost of losing what’s irreplaceable. Balance is the key. As we climb the ladders of success, let’s not forget to hold the hands of those we love.
In the end, life isn’t measured by the trophies we collect but by the hearts we touch. So, take a moment today to reflect on your priorities. Ask yourself what truly matters, and make sure it’s on your list.
Because when your time comes, you won’t wish for your possessions—you’ll wish for your connections. And that’s the real success