He came back to Life to tell me this

I was walking along the roadside when I heard a voice, yet no one was around. I resumed walking, but this time, the voice grew louder — there was a warmth to it, a hint of kindness. I stopped. The voice seemed to come from nearby. Looking down, I saw a leaf. It appeared lifeless, yet as I gazed at it, it smiled. The sight left me stunned.

Sensing my emotions, it spoke, “Don’t be surprised. I want to share something with you. Every day, I watch people rushing past — just as you are now. I won’t take much of your time; I know you must be busy like the rest. But what I have to say is truly valuable.”

I remained silent, still bewildered. Yet, the leaf smiled at me, and in that smile, I felt genuine kindness.

It spoke again, “Life returns in different forms, sometimes in many, after it departs. I had one last message to share, so life gave me another chance to speak with you about something valuable.”

From the very start, I had been in shock, yet the leaf had worn a smile the entire time.

“Now, listen to me. I need your full attention. Don’t be surprised — I will only begin if you agree. But there’s one condition: you must share what I tell you with others.” Still unsure of what to make of this, I nodded in agreement, my mind reeling from the encounter.

“I appreciate that sir,” it replied gently before continuing.

“Find time to truly live and experience life. Don’t fall into the habit of constantly jumping from one task to another. Take a step back. Relax every now and then. Life is precious — don’t treat it like just another work project. Spend time with yourself. Pause and truly feel life for a moment. Pause to live, to smile, to recognize the blessings around and within you. Pause to appreciate others. Pause to quiet your thoughts. See these moments of pause as life offering you something beautiful — something you’ve always longed for.”

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” — John Lennon

“If you keep rushing, you’ll miss so much. And I fear that, in the end, you might miss life itself. If you don’t give it the attention it deserves, it will slip right through your hands.”

Smiling, he continued, closing his eyes momentarily. “I want to quote Ibn Sina (Avicenna 980–1037) here; he said, ‘I prefer a short life with width to a narrow one with length.’”

For the first time, I felt a sense of relief, a faint smile appearing on my face.

He continued in the same calm tone, “Have you ever wondered why time seems to fly? Why a whole year can feel like it passed in just a month? Why time moves so fast that you struggle to keep up?

My friend, it is because you have distanced yourself from nature. You have started living artificially. Life is deeply connected to nature, and only when you rebuild that bond will you truly begin to live.

How often do you push your limits for just to improve and have a better mind and body? How often do you take a quiet walk in nature? Why are you always in a hurry? Why not embrace nature’s rhythm, allowing it to guide you? When you align with nature’s pace, it assists you, transforming your efforts into something beautiful and mesmerizing — just as nature itself is.

Be one with nature, and it will grant you gifts beyond your imagination and abilities. But most importantly, it will give you the chance to truly live, not just exist.”

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” — Etienne de Grellet

It seemed for a moment as if he was reliving a pleasant memory from the past. Then, he smiled and looked at me. “I was once full of life, blooming with vitality, and I believed it would last forever. But do not make that mistake — you, too, will be replaced when the next spring arrives. So, do what is right while you can. Remember, you have only “NOW”.

Spend time with family and friends. Be kind to them. Treat your colleagues and those you work with gently and with respect. Show kindness even to strangers.”

He continued in assertive tone, “Do not waste your life dwelling on the past or brooding over what cannot be changed. Life moves forward — go with it. Visit the past only to learn from it. Let go of what has already left, past. Embrace what is here with you now, present. And most importantly, be ready — take the right actions to prepare for what is coming to meet you, future.”

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha

Paused for a moment, “Are you still with me, sir?” He inquired. “Yes, yes, I am.” I replied. He smiled and continued “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now. If you don’t act, you’ll regret it once more. So, make the right choices today. Follow your passion. Do what you’ve always wanted to do. Do not be afraid. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve something. If you believe in it, you can make it happen. Failure is better than regret, so take action without worrying about the outcome.”

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

“Share the good you have with others, and it will multiply. Whether it’s knowledge or wealth, sharing only increases it. Share a smile, and it will be returned. Be of service, and you will receive when you need it. Never forget to include others in the blessings and fortune you have — by doing so, they grow and multiply.”

“Smile through everything, whether you’re in good times or facing hardship. Accept your fate, make peace with it. It has been yours from the start. Do your best with whatever you’ve got.:

“Remember my friend, many problems and obstacles that appear to be burdens bring hidden opportunities and open doors to prosperity, but you can only see them with a positive attitude. If you succumb to sadness and anxiety, you’ll miss the good these challenges have brought. Blessings are often wrapped in pain by nature. And if you have anything good, spread it in any way you can.”

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

“This is what I had to share, Mr. Now. As promised, pass this message along to others — someone may benefit from it. Thank you for being the messenger and taking the time. I will recommend your services to others as well. Keep serving.” He winked and smiled at me one last time.

With that, I stood in silence. As he rested again, I took him and his message with me. Now, I write his message for you. He rests in peace knowing, his message will be shared.

Now that you’ve heard it, it is your responsibility to pass it on, too.