Everything In Life is Temporary, So Appreciate Today

“Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either. – The Minds Journal

If there’s one thing we can depend on in life, it’s the unexpected struggles and circumstances which have a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it. Your day-to-day existence certainly ebbs and flows, but ultimately it’s filled with normalcy and routines that provide you with comfort.

But then…WHAM! That normalcy is imploded. We’ll spend some time speculating that there may have been changes we could have made in order to prevent such struggles and circumstances from appearing in the first place. 

But I’ve come to believe over the course of my life that many times the unexpected happens for a reason, though I realize that statement provides little comfort at the moment.

In truth, humanity gets far too comfortable in its normalcy. That normalcy leads us to believe we’re invincible and untouchable, that our health and prosperity will simply endure forever. 

How naive we human beings can be. If the global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that life is fragile and change can dramatically impact our lives with greater speed than we might expect – often beyond our control.

While supporting such a notion might seem somewhat pessimistic, I believe it’s important to be realistic. Everything in life IS temporary. While that can provide both a sense of solace and be the cause of sadness, nothing could be more true when it comes to our personal and professional lives.

Everything in life is temporary, which is why it’s so important to live in the moment and enjoy today for the gifts and bounties it provides you. To appreciate your loved ones while they’re still part of your earthly life, and be grateful for the good fortunes you currently have, which may not always be available.

I’ve been acquainted with individuals who set goals and create life plans down to the most minute detail. They create milestones based on age, for example, when to get married or what title they want to hold at work. While it’s important to have goals to progress your life forward and plans that help determine how you’ll get there, people often forget how much of life is out of our control.

Your efforts, no matter how sincere or well thought out, do not guarantee success or security, and being unable to adjust to the unexpected can put a toll on one’s mental health and personal relationships.

So what can you do when unexpected struggles and circumstances come sneaking up on you?

Well, first, understand that you’re not alone. While we like to convince ourselves that our struggles and circumstance are unique, they’re not. Millions of individuals around the globe have already and are now currently experiencing the same things we’re going through, regardless of the situation. That’s just part of being human – a connection of experiences – and that connection can, at times, provide both perspective and even support.

Second, and perhaps most important, remember that everything in life is temporary. Before long, you will look back on the occasion with greater clarity for the journey you were reluctant to undertake but are now pleased with the outcome. 

Author Ann Marie Aguilar writes, “The good and the bad things are part of life. Accept it. The bad is a learning process, you will surpass it. If you do you will be happy and it will be a good thing.”