[Life Planning] In my 50s, I've reached an age where 'next time' no longer exists
When I was young,
'Next time' was a given.
Let's have a drink next time.
Let's meet next time.
Let's talk properly next time.
When I said that,
that 'next time' truly came around.
Even a year later.
Even three years later.
Even ten years later.
We were able to meet again.
However, as you get older,
that feeling gradually changes.
Because you realize that 'next time'
is not guaranteed to come.
Parents get older.
Friends get older.
I get older too.
Some people get sick.
Some people pass away suddenly.
Some people move far away due to job transfers or relocations.
In life,
there are more goodbyes than you might think.
When I was young,
I thought I could see people whenever I wanted.
But now it's different.
If there is someone you want to see,
I think you should see them now.
If there is someone you want to contact,
I think you should contact them now.
Because I've realized that 'sometime' is a dangerous word.
In fact,
most regrets are not about failures.
They are about not meeting someone.
They are about not saying something.
They are about not taking action.
That is how it is.
I wish I had met them back then.
I wish I had talked to them back then.
I wish I had said thank you back then.
Such regrets
only increase as you get older.
That is why lately,
I have come to want to cherish my connections.
If I hear from someone after a long time, I meet them.
If I am invited, I go whenever possible.
I reach out to the people I want to see.
Of course,
there is no need to accept every invitation.
There is no need to push yourself either.
However,
I do not put off the people I truly want to see.
That is enough.
Life is shorter than you think.
And the time spent with people
is even shorter.
When I was young, I felt like the future would last forever.
But now I understand.
Being able to meet is not a given.
The person you can meet today,
There is no guarantee that I will be healthy a year from now.
The same goes for me.
That is precisely why,
instead of saying 'next time',
I want to be the kind of person who asks,
'When shall we meet next?'
Perhaps aging is about
realizing the value of time.
And,
because I have reached an age where 'next time' is no longer guaranteed,
each and every encounter
feels much more precious than it used to.