Inertia — Nº171
Life isn't passing you by
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
— Maya Angelou
In this journal, I talk a lot about slowing down because we concentrate too much on the passing of time—and not enough on the quality of it.
Today’s world moves at breakneck speed, and the pace is too much for many. Because of this, we think life passes so quickly, and our best years are over before we know it. You become overwhelmed with the expectation to capture everything, to have it all figured out, to never be stressed or complain. But this is not life.
You’ve heard all the famous stories about the actors and more who made it big later in life; it happened life isn’t a train that leaves the station without you. It unfolds at its own pace, unique to the individual. I used to confuse this with time, which runs on no matter what. But while time doesn’t wait for you, life does.
You can feel frequent pressure to believe that your youngest years represent your best. But why allow society to undermine the years when you do much more, such as reaching career heights, getting married, having kids, or enjoying retirement? We’re told if we haven’t achieved certain goals by a certain age, we’ve somehow missed our chance. But this perspective is fundamentally flawed and pointless, creating stress from people who won’t help you bear it.
Those aren’t your best years—they’re just years. Each one brings its own richness, wisdom, mistakes, and opportunities for soul-cleansing and growth.
Every year can be your best year. Because who can really say otherwise? We always grow in our independence, careers, relationships, and personal interests. We also always evolve in understanding what makes life meaningful. No one else determines that for you.
Every experience—whether triumphant or challenging—teaches something valuable about who you are and what’s around you.
The pressure to “figure it all out” can be overwhelming. For many others, myself included, it can be hard to want to open up about it. You notice that more people around you are cracking the code while you’re still fumbling in the dark. But here’s the truth: no one has it all figured out, and starting again is not a fault or always a mistake. There is no shame if you live shamelessly. Life is complex, ever-changing, and deeply personal. So it’s about discovering how life works for you, not following someone else’s blueprint.
We impose the “best years” construct on ourselves for no reason. Life doesn’t get worse as we age. It doesn’t become mediocre; no one writes that in but you. Focus on authentic living and finding happiness through everyday experiences rather than meeting overbearing expectations.
Life is remembering to take a deep breath and knowing how to release pressure. It’s not passing you by; it’s always there. Embrace it in all of its forms and at every stage. Your best years are the ones you choose to make the best by being open-minded, vulnerable, and okay with failure.
You’re not following the same script as everyone else, you’re writing your own one every day.