At some point in life, regret for the past will surface. Hatred will build up against stubbornness. You will want to bang your head for wasting precious time on pride and misunderstandings. Our frustration, our regret, will largely stem from not giving enough time to our family. In our efforts to serve the world, the country, or others, we keep ourselves busy, failing to understand the emotions of those who rely on us—and one day, this will stand as a history of failure. Wandering the wrong paths, wasting time on unproductive ventures, we sacrifice beautiful relationships and cherished moments. Prioritizing outsiders over our own home will eventually confront us with a daunting list of damages to reconcile. Time, in its way, takes interest and returns behavior in full.
When regret for the past sets in, when remorse over past deeds arises, or when it becomes clear that mistakes were made, the sun will no longer be overhead. If self-realization occurs after the day has tilted towards dusk, there will be no opportunity left to ease the pain of mistakes or pay the price for them before fading into darkness. Even in a life built on wrong decisions and decay at its core, there is hope if those errors are identified in time. But if pride persists, if mistakes are not acknowledged, or if the rights of others are ignored, the disease of darkness consumes all joy. At that point, regret and realization merely open the door to new agony. Even if remorse for deeds becomes intense, no balm can heal the wounds, nor lessen the pain. Instead, the burden grows heavier over time, dragging on until death.
Just as a sapling needs care in its early stages, relationships too need nurturing during their budding phase to blossom fully. Yet, in our negligence, we often wither the potential of such blossoms at the budding stage itself. Relationships rooted in trust dry up and wilt when neglected. When hearts grow distant, bonds lose their pull. Trying to revive youthful dreams in old age—like pouring water too late—yields no fulfillment. There is a precise moment to enjoy the fullness of the moonlit night. The time to dive into oceans, climb mountains, or revel in the rush of life fades with age, leaving only conversation as solace. These are joys of the moment. However, pride, stubbornness, and harboring resentments create distances that rob us of many treasures in a short lifetime. Without sharing a hand to feel raindrops on the skin, much of life remains incomplete.
Some mistakes leave no room for repentance. The wounds of twenty-two lost years cannot be healed by fifty-two-year-old wisdom. If all actions taken in stubbornness were right, love and affection wouldn’t have been separated into distinct entities. Those who prioritize outsiders over their own home are bound to feel regret. Disappointment inevitably follows the passing of time. Every spring, every autumn has its own story. Every night holds an epic of union. If these are washed away by arrogance and anger, resentment between hearts only increases—it does not diminish. Distance and emptiness in relationships are frightening. Hence, neglecting and keeping apart do not lead to goodness or light. They do not quench the thirst for love but instead deepen the maladies of the heart.
How long does the charm of life’s talisman last? Therefore, the ability to make the right decision at the right time is a source of pride. If you roll aimlessly in the wrong direction, you’ll meet nothing but sighs of deprivation at the rightful destination. Even the distant sky sends dew to the earth at night, bathing it in the moon’s light, sharing stories. When the heart is heavy with sorrow, it sends rhythmic rain as a gift. Yet, when humans cling to stubbornness, they forget the past, destroying the future opportunities of walking together. If the past is filled with moments of colorless monotony, then time will return with regrets painted in darker hues. Then it will strike: “I could have avoided all this.” When mistakes are realized but there’s no chance for atonement, the resulting anguish can feel like an invitation to death. And yet, how beautiful time could have been! There were so many opportunities to color it in joy. Can the justification for wasting time in indifference ever be reasonable?
To deprive each other is to deprive the entire family in various ways. Such issues aren’t caused by one person alone. Similarly, the wounds they cause cannot be healed by one person’s effort alone. Both parties must take steps forward, abandoning pride, to seek happiness. If two people continue facing opposite directions, time doesn’t stand still—it brings old age, framing the future in its inevitable embrace. Days that remain uncolored in joy become alien to life itself. Stubbornness will bring unnoticed twilight closer. Who gains from this loss? Harmony is essential for happiness. Taking the initiative in good deeds doesn’t diminish anyone; rather, it enhances importance. Keeping one’s word, avoiding dwelling on past misfortunes, doesn’t harm winter—it strengthens one’s spirit. Togetherness brings worldly peace. Surely, depriving oneself by one’s own actions is not a mark of wisdom.
