“The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion” -Thich Nhat Hanh

Here, in this moment, I find the gift of being. The air fills my lungs, grounding me in the rhythm of life. The present moment holds me—without judgment, without stories, without blame. It is not just a place but a presence, alive with subtle energy, a quiet magic that invites me to simply be.

This space has welcomed me in many forms: with bitterness, judgment, and desire, but also with gratitude and acceptance. Yet, no two moments are the same, and this moment, like all others, is uniquely its own—a fleeting treasure, never to be repeated.

I am aware of death, as one might be of an old friend walking silently beside them. It does not loom as an ending but rests as a threshold, a passage back to the mystery from which I came. At every turn, I shape my journey toward it—sometimes hastening, sometimes delaying—but never escaping its quiet companionship.

If death were to walk beside me now, I would greet it with the same openness I offer life. I would say, “There is no place I’d rather die than here, and no place I’d rather live.” In this moment, I embrace both life and death, two threads woven into the fabric of existence. Together, they teach me to be content with what is, what has been, and what may come.

This is the wisdom I carry: to cherish the present as both infinite and fleeting, to meet every breath with gratitude, and to hold life and death in the same open hand. For in their union lies the fullness of being.