The recent footage of the Korean plane accident was heartbreaking. Watching those final seconds as the plane moved along the runway, I couldn’t help but imagine the terror the passengers must have felt. Who would have thought that what seemed like a routine flight would become their final journey?
This reminds me of a poignant story about a celebrity, Lou. I once watched her on a TV show where she confidently shared her life plans. She advised everyone to invest in real estate rather than luxury goods, planning to sell her properties at 70 for a comfortable retirement. She proudly spoke about her health, mentioning her regular check-ups that even impressed her doctors.
Yet life had other plans. She passed away suddenly at 59, before any of her carefully laid plans could come to fruition.
Over the years, this has taught me valuable lessons. In my youth, I firmly believed in delayed gratification. Like a dedicated savings bank, I stored away all my happiness for the future. Instead of buying designer bags, I invested in property. Rather than attending concerts, I bought stocks. I worked overtime on weekends instead of traveling, believing that working harder today would lead to a better tomorrow.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized how life is full of unexpected turns. A friend of mine had been saving for years to travel the world after retirement. However, when she fell ill at 45, even after recovery, her dream of long-distance travel became impossible. She often says, “If I had known, I would have traveled more when I was younger.”
I recently read a book called “Die with Zero” that really struck a chord with me. It suggests that life isn’t just about saving money but using it to create beautiful memories. At 20, you can hike around the island; at 50, you might only manage a relaxing spa hotel stay. At 30, you can enjoy street food adventures; by 65, you might need to worry about your digestion and teeth.
I’ve started adjusting my lifestyle – not recklessly spending, but creating more joyful experiences within my means. Last year, I took my parents to see cherry blossoms in Japan. Though the flights and hotels were expensive, seeing their happy faces made it worthwhile. Recently, my husband and I enrolled in diving classes – something we’d wanted to do since we were young but kept postponing.
An ancient Chinese poem says, “The joys of youth can never be bought back,” expressing how time slips away. As 2024 draws to a close, none of us knows what tomorrow brings. Rather than saving all our happiness for an uncertain future, perhaps we should cherish the present and savor every beautiful moment in life. After all, life is short, and time spent with loved ones is precious.
Now, I give myself more chances to embrace life. Moderate enjoyment isn’t waste – it’s creating our own life story. Maybe this is the most valuable wealth: running while we can still run, hugging while we can still hug, and loving while we can still love. Nobody knows what’s around the next corner, so perhaps enjoying life while we can is the wisest approach to living.
This isn’t about being reckless with money or time. It’s about finding that sweet spot between saving for tomorrow and living for today. Because in the end, what matters most isn’t the wealth we accumulate, but the memories we create and the love we share along the way.