The Mirage of Tomorrow

In our mind’s quiet corners, there’s a promise that binds all of us together; an iridescent tomorrow’s image where everything falls into place, dreams are satisfied and happiness finally becomes ours. In spite of this baiting pledge though it covers a hackneyed reality— one cannot get tomorrow without enjoying today.

This was Samir’s life based on the same pledge. Every choice he made; every time he spent working until late at night writing things down in order to avoid losing them, everything planned was meant to allow him have taste for future he could almost taste but never touch. He was just like someone going after mirage one step away from happiness he always believed to be beyond the next corner.

As days turned into weeks which morphed into months over years during his journey through life, deep down inside Samir started experiencing a sense of emptiness that felt hollow. Payloads upon payloads filled his calendar above but one thing seemed missing .He had everything laid out still getting weighed down by 'what-ifs' or 'somedays’ kind of life.

In the stillness of the night, Samir sat on top of his house looking at the sprawling metropolis that lay below him while darkness crept about within his soul. How could he be so alive when everything else was so dull? The children playing outside in laughter, cars speeding along and rain drops storming onto roofs created an enchanted world but somehow it never fully came through to him. He felt like some kind of ghost haunting himself.

Is this all there is?” he wondered. “Just waiting for tomorrow?”

Then he woke up in the middle of another sleepless night and headed down to town trying to find some answers somewhere amidst shadows cast by less-than-perfect lights. Passing by a little coffee shop, he caught sight of an elderly man seated right at the glass side with a teacup on one hand who was looking outside with satisfaction because life seemed good around him from that perspective only. It affected Samir that such could exist without any sort of disorder or panic about tomorrow—just someone relishing what they are doing at every single moment.

On an unseen force’s call, Samir entered the café and settled next to the stranger. Their conversation was a typical chit-chat for strangers only that it did not appear as shallow as one with the long-time acquaintances.

So he began his story about how life was during his childhood, all the dreams he chased after and some of them he did not catch hold of. But then again, there was no hint of regret in his words. Rather than that it was more like an accepting serenity where he comprehended that it is not always about big achievements made but rather small moments that take place in between all these major events.

“You know what son? I used to be just like you,” the old man spoke while looking directly into Samir’s eyes; “I would constantly anticipate something significant happening next. However one day I woke up to realize that I was missing on the beauty lying before me.” After leaving out waiting for a perfect moment, he started living at present moments. When this occurred is when happiness met him for real.

Long after leaving the cafe, those words remained imprinted in Samir's mind. The following day, he awoke with a new determination. His aspirations were still intact and he worked towards his goals but they no longer had a bearing on his present life. The world appeared new to him every sunrise that came; there was an opportunity for connection in every conversation; and every day was another chance at living life fully.

Samir understood that the future was not an end goal or distant land, but rather a reality being built by each choice made now, each moment experienced here and now. It dawned upon him that blending into this, would find him a tranquility he had been searching for so long.

The future holds its own allure, but it is the present that breathes life into our dreams. Live today with as much passion as you plan for tomorrow, and you will find that happiness is not a destination, but a journey.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and engage with The Mirage of Tomorrow ,Your support means everything, and I hope this story meant as much to you as it did to me.

It’s easy to overlook the beauty and joy of today in our pursuit of dreams and ambitions. I’m thankful for this opportunity of sharing our journey together, because I hope this will remind us that real happiness is finding a balance between living intensely today while working towards our tomorrow.

Your feedback and encouragement are really important to me, and I am looking forward to bring you more inspiring stories. Thank you for being in this ride with us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Lina Khan