Being Alive

Being Alive Is Special

“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion”.

In our fast-paced and busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to take a step back and appreciate the little things. We often save things for a special occasion, whether it’s a new outfit, an expensive bottle of wine, or even our time and energy. We tell ourselves that we’ll use them when the time is right, when that special occasion finally arrives.

But what if I told you that every day is a special occasion?

That being alive itself is the ultimate reason to celebrate and enjoy the things we have.

The quote “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion”, by American author Ann Wells, perfectly captures this sentiment. It reminds us that life is a precious gift, and every moment we have is worth cherishing.

Yet, how many of us truly live by this ‘philosophy’?

We often get caught up in the pursuit of happiness, thinking that once we achieve certain milestones or acquire certain things, then we’ll finally be ‘content’. We put our happiness on hold, waiting for that perfect moment to come long. But in doing so, we fail to realize that life is happening now, at this very moment.

We are all guilty of saving things for a special occasion. We save our best clothes for a fancy dinner or a special event like a wedding. We save our favourite dishes for special dinners or guests. We can even save our love and affection for someone we deem worthy enough.

But — what if that special occasion never happens? What if we never get the chance to wear that special outfit or use those special dishes? What if we never get the opportunity to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us?

The truth is that life is unpredictable.

We never know what tomorrow may bring. We may never get the chance to use or experience the things we’ve been saving for that ‘special occasion’. In doing this, we miss out on countless opportunities to appreciate and enjoy the present moment.

Instead of waiting for the perfect moment, we should start celebrating and appreciating the present moment. We should wear that beautiful outfit on any random day just because it makes us feel good. We should cook that special dinner and use those special dishes for ourselves. We should show our loved ones how much we love them every single day.

Life is not just about the significant milestones and achievements; it’s about the little moments that make up our everyday lives. It’s about finding joy in the simple things, like a warm cup of coffee in the morning, a hug from a loved one, or a beautiful sunset. We often overlook these moments in pursuit of bigger and better things, but they are what truly make life special.

By saving things for a special occasion, we also put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We set high expectations for that moment, expecting it to be perfect and bring us everlasting happiness. But more often than not, these expectations go unfulfilled, and we end up feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

On the other hand, when we celebrate and appreciate every single day as a special occasion, we release ourselves from that pressure. We learn to find joy in the ‘imperfections’ and appreciate the little things that make each day unique. We also learn to be grateful for what we have instead of always craving for more.

Saving things for a special occasion limits our experiences and memories. We could miss out on opportunities to try new things or create unforgettable memories because “we’re waiting for that perfect moment”. Life is too short to wait for these things to happen — we have to take action and make things happen ourselves today.

We need to start living life as if every day is a special occasion.

We need to wear our best clothes, eat our favourite food, and spend time with those we love without any reservations. We need to embrace life in all its imperfections and appreciate every single moment as it comes.

The above quote serves as a powerful reminder to live in the moment and celebrate every day as a special occasion. Life is unpredictable, and tomorrow is never promised.

After all, being alive itself is the ultimate special occasion.