Before the Pendulum Stops

The pendulum of time swings, until it doesn’t.

It pivots back and forth;

Once energy is exhausted, it just stops.

Human lives function the same way,

The tick of our existence halts when our time is up. 

What’s the worst part of it all?

We do not know when, where, or how our existence ceases to be.

We often overlook how quickly our lives, away from us, can flee.

Taking things for granted is easy.

“I hate it here,” someone mutters, because she could not buy a designer jacket.

A person from another neighborhood sighs as they run tight on money, struggling to fill their fridge and pay their bills.

Just five kilometers away, a family is mourning the loss of their son.

And, on the other side of the world, a nation affected by war laments the tragedy of its people.

Against the backdrop of violence and anxieties, what does it truly mean to live?

Each and every person is familiar with struggle, even if we all bear different weights.

This is not to compare and belittle,

We all share vulnerabilities.

It is just a gentle reminder of life’s fragility. 

Time won’t stop for us, so who are we to waste it away?

In a world that numbs us,

We embody self-interest and lack of care for others.

Ignoring how brittle we humans are,

We see tragedy, sigh, and move on with our days.

We do not realize something’s value until it is gone.

The same way we don’t realize our privileges until we are deprived of liberties.

A single accident, slip, bullet, or bomb, can cause someone to simply stop existing. 

With a light gust of wind,

Love meets heartbreak,

Peace meets war,

And life meets death.

Without warning,

People just stop being. 

What a strange kind of irony we all share:

We are alive, ‘til our pulse becomes a flatline.

We are free, ‘til we are enslaved.

We are blessed, ‘til problems arise. 

In the midst of pride and differences, we fail to realize what matters in the long run: making the most out of our borrowed time and cherishing those around us. 

As I grew older, I realized it is not worth it to throw away our chance at life.

Anything can happen.

We will never know when our own pendulums cease to swing,

Time is precious and fleeting.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that

We show up for others,

Hug tightly,

Love deeply,

Let no regret hold you back.

Before the pendulum stops.