Embracing the Fragile Nature of Being
The Delicate Thread We Call 'Life'
It's simply so easy to get carried away by the hustle and bustle of this incredibly tender thread of life, is it not?
I read something the other day while browsing the media, and I guess I need to stop and reflect more often; "maybe we don't exist in the future we worry about." There are several ways to perceive this saying. I'll admit, whatever this saying provoked within me right away wasn't very positive or uplifting. Perhaps, some of us tend to think of what's the point of anything and everything when we are struck with the reality of life's fragility.
The very first time I truly felt the loss of a loved one was during my 9th grade. As though Covid-19 and the entire world behind the bars of a lockdown wasn't miserable enough for me, I lost my dearest -- my grandmom. Then came a void into my life I don't think I was prepared for. It forced me to understand that not everyone I have now are gonna be here for an eternity. Before I realize, I'd leave this world too. Time is in a rush, and it's so terrifyingly fleeting. It's a choking thought, really, one that sits heavy on the chest.
Reflecting for longer helped me realize how knowing that life is fleeting doesn’t have to paralyze us; it has the power to awaken us. It can push us to be more present, more intentional, and more grateful. If the future is uncertain, then perhaps the most powerful thing we can do is show up fully for the now. It's a silent prayer of mine, that every deed I do is wrapped up in utmost sincerity.
I'm taken aback by how often I feel so rushed. I feel the constant pressure to achieve the greatest heights, the pressure to make every day count and to be constantly doing. It's come to a point where I feel guilty for stopping and relaxing sometimes. Every tiny break that I probably deserve to take in the middle of all the chaos sometimes begin to feel like a waste of time. Everyone I observe around me seems to have achieved more than me in a way or the other. I get stuck in the constant loop of wanting to get better at everything I do, only to feel like I haven't progressed at all. When I rarely do observe progress, a few days in and I find myself back to square one again, as if all the efforts unraveled overnight.
But, when I step back and remind myself of life's fragility again, the perspective shifts. Maybe the point isn’t to constantly prove our progress, but to keep showing up with honesty and a whole heart - because we don’t know how many chances we’ll get. Life doesn’t promise permanence, only threads woven into a collection of moments. And in those moments, even if our efforts seem small and insignificant, giving our best still matters. It means we lived with intention. It means we didn’t just exist - we cared, we tried, and we made meaning, however quietly, in a fleeting world.
When my time on this earth runs its natural course, I want to leave it in power. I want to leave it loud. I want to leave behind a lasting mark; not for recognition, but as proof that I lived fully and loved fiercely too, and that I poured my soul into the time I was given. Because no matter how short or insignificant this life may sometimes seem, I want to leave knowing that I lived it with purpose. Purpose. It's a strong word I want to hold onto dearly. There's something terrifying about the idea of absence of a rigid purpose. Growing up, I've always told few people how I want to make an impact. I'm not sure in what way I want to do so, yet. All I know is that I want to, and I hold onto the hope that life paves the path for me. Perhaps, purpose doesn’t always begin with a perfect plan. Maybe it begins with intention; with the quiet decision to live each day sincerely, even when the results aren’t obvious.
The pressure to do more, be more, achieve more - it’s overwhelming at times. Especially in a world that rewards loud success and constant motion. But life is fragile. We aren’t promised decades. We aren’t even promised tomorrow. And so, in that fragile space between now and the unknown, let's live with a whole heart. Even in a fleeting life, sincerity carves a mark. And maybe that’s enough.
About the Creator
Kadeeja Mariyam
certified tea addict and hustle-holic🏋️♀️
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