Life has taught me that nothing lasts forever — not the hardships, not the joys. For years I thought I had to always plan for the future and worry about tomorrow, but immigrating and starting over in a new city showed me that the only thing I truly hold is this very moment. People, places, and even feelings change, and that change is neither scary nor bad — it's simply part of life. I learned that instead of clinging to the past or racing toward a future that hasn't arrived yet, I should pause, breathe, and live right now.
Cherishing the moment means being grateful for the small things: a warm cup of tea in the morning, my eleven-year-old son's laughter, the smell of paint on a canvas, or the sound of the waves in this coastal city. These aren't grand things, but they are exactly what life is made of. When we learn to be present, the weight of the past and the anxiety of the future fade away, and calm takes their place. Art taught me that beauty hides in these simple details — we only need to open our eyes and see.