A time for spiritual renewal

There are certain realities we did not consider because there was no time to think about them, or they were beyond our self-centred bubble. Life is brief, and so are relationships. As we worship the holy month of Ramadhan, it is a time for self-reflection - a time for spiritual renewal.

As people age, religious celebrations gain new meanings. Each person observes their faith and traditions according to their principles, but what is interesting is that over time, people reflect on their experiences - moments, rather than years.

Everyone, young or old, can learn valuable lessons from life. These teachings, in my opinion, are about love, forgiveness, thankfulness, and ageing. No matter how young you are today, you will be old one day, assuming you are fortunate not to have your life interrupted.

People can spend the entire lives making money and building empires. They dedicate so much time and passion to organisations, yet once you deemed too old for the necessary commitment, they fade into obscurity, unlikely to be mentioned or remembered. Everything fades away in this world; family, friends, and coworkers become too absorbed in their own lives. However, death and taxes go along with you regardless.

Building relationships over prioritising achievements would be ideal. Still, we live in a consumerist and materialistic society where relationships are judged on mutual benefits. One can have several properties and titles and the world as his playground. Still, when one reaches the winter of his life and is unable to walk, eat, or even take a bath without assistance, the accumulated wealth means little, except that you can pay for someone to bathe you.

Spending your final years in a wheelchair without enjoying the life you've worked so hard to create can be difficult to accept. The independence you previously had to get out of bed, drive yourself, meet friends, and walk about has been taken away, possibly because your entire attention was on developing a career, an empire. However, you no longer have the physical strength to enjoy the fruits of your effort.

Don’t get me wrong - money can provide comfort, but good health comes first. But voila, some people and organisations profit from unhealthy lifestyles and the exploitation of medical and pharmaceutical services and supplies. We should not take our youth and health for granted.

Most of us are attached to material things such as a big house, a nice car, and expensive clothes; however, the possessions we tend to keep collecting will eventually mean nothing.

You, like all things, are left behind. Your dedication to work may slip away the week after you stop using that old chair. It is not about being forgotten; rather, it is about how much determination you have put into your life to generate money and establish empires, whether for yourself or others. If you are fortunate not to be forgotten, people will remember you for how you made them feel, not for your possessions or the long working hours or weekends you spent.

Within these thoughts, ageing is more than becoming older; it is about how one spends the time left. Some people may experience the weight of loneliness and regrets, while others may treasure the wisdom of a well-lived life. Some people have serenity in their hearts, while others wish they had done things differently.

Happiness is appreciating the small things in life and recognising what we already have. I've also realised that while forgiveness brings peacefulness, holding on to anger poisons the soul and our existence. No amount of money or dedication to work can replace the warmth of human connection. “If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.”

Every day is a gift, and life can change in a flash.

The writer is journalist, academic and researcher in media studies