I saw the news about a plane crash in Korea. The final seconds of the plane landing and sliding on the runway left me speechless. I couldn’t stop thinking about the passengers inside—how helpless they must have felt. Who would have thought that a simple flight would turn into the end of their lives?
It reminded me of a story from a TV show I watched before. In the episode, a famous celebrity, Luo, talked about her financial advice. She said, “Don’t buy luxury bags or expensive items. The first thing you should buy is real estate.” She proudly shared that she had bought several houses and planned to sell them slowly after turning 70 to live a comfortable life.
She also mentioned how she did health check-ups every year and how even doctors praised her good health. But sadly, we all know how her story ended. She passed away suddenly at 59. It’s heartbreaking and makes me realize how fragile life is. One moment you’re here, and the next, everything is gone.
In the past, I strongly believed in the idea of “delayed gratification.” I thought it was wise to work hard, save money, and leave all the fun things for the future. Like in the marshmallow experiment, I was willing to wait, thinking it would lead to a better tomorrow. But as I get older, I’ve started to see life differently.
There are so many unexpected events that we can’t control. Some things are better done at the right time. For example, there’s a book called Die with Zero by Bill Perkins, a Wall Street investor. He shared an interesting idea: “We should spend our money on life experiences while we’re still alive.” He believes money is not the purpose of life—it’s just a tool to create memories and enjoy life.
He explains that every stage of life has unique experiences. The food you enjoy at 20 might not taste the same at 70. The mountains you climb at 30 might be too difficult to climb at 60. He encourages people to use their time and energy to explore, connect with loved ones, and build memories rather than only saving for the future.
This message really hit me. Many people spend their whole lives chasing financial security, only to realize later that their health and energy are gone. Even with a lot of money, if you’re sick or too old to enjoy it, what’s the point? That’s why it’s better to use our healthy and active years to travel, try new things, and spend time with family and friends.
I used to avoid spending money on travel because I thought saving money was safer. But in recent years, I’ve changed my mindset. As long as it’s within my budget and doesn’t affect my current life, I choose to make the most of my time now. I want to create bright, happy memories with my family while we can still enjoy these moments together.
There’s an old saying: “The joys of youth cannot be bought back, no matter how much money you have.”. Who knows what will happen tomorrow? When will the “next time” or “someday” come? How many days do we truly have in this world?
I hope to live each day to the fullest—loving deeply, laughing freely, and making the most of every moment. Life is short, and we should treasure it while we can.