All things are fleeting—the highs and lows, the people who cross our path, the places we call home, our jobs, our worries, and even life itself. What feels heavy or unchangeable today will eventually pass as the joys we cherish become memories over time. Recognizing the impermanence of everything can help us savor the present, appreciate what we have while it’s here, and let go of what we cannot hold onto. Embracing this perspective invites us to live more fully and take life’s ups and downs in stride.

Have you ever taken a moment to listen to the stories your mind is weaving?

Consider that every strong emotion you feel could be an experience meant to pass through you.

What if, instead of defining ourselves by life’s events, we saw each moment—joyful or challenging—as temporary?

Embracing this can bring both acceptance and a more profound joy.

When I feel stuck, I remind myself of life’s transience.

Be Moved Without Becoming
Rather than believing you are your emotions or experiences, consider that you are simply feeling them.

When you catch yourself saying, ‘I am anxious,’ shift it to ‘I am experiencing anxiety.’

This subtle shift can help you accept the ebb and flow of emotions, allowing you to stay present without clinging to any one feeling.

Life Stages are Temporary
Life’s stages always shift, and in 1974, I was reminded of just how temporary each one can be. That year, I began law school at UC Santa Cruz and worked as a paralegal for a law firm.

The job market in Santa Cruz was tough; competition among lawyers was intense, and opportunities were few.

I remember doubts creeping in, wondering if law school had been a mistake. The pressure felt immense, and my concerns seemed validated during a summer internship with a Criminal Defense attorney.

One case—a double murder and double rape—left a lasting impact.

Curious and unsettled, I asked the attorney what defending someone accused of such crimes was like.

His response (paraphrased from memory) resonated with me profoundly:

‘In this line of work, a defendant’s “not guilty” plea means only that guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt; it doesn’t mean they didn’t do it. Even with morally complex clients, our role is to ensure that only legally admissible evidence and testimony reach the jury. The defense attorney isn’t personally vouching for the client’s innocence but upholding the law’s standards. Cases where you’re convinced of a client’s innocence can be the hardest; the drive to secure their acquittal feels deeply personal, and a loss can be devastating. By contrast, losing a case with a client you believe is guilty feels less personal, as long as you’ve represented them competently and ethically.’

In this case, the client was found guilty, and I, too, believed in his guilt.

Although initially drawn to criminal law, this experience left me feeling disheartened. The trial was intense and emotionally taxing, and I later learned that the attorney I worked under took his own life just a year later. This experience solidified that a career in criminal law wasn’t right for me, though my interest in the field of law has stayed with me ever since.

Tune In to Your Stories
Our minds are natural storytellers, spinning vivid, intricate tales that feel all too real.

These stories can evoke a spectrum of emotions—frustration, joy, sadness—and often take creative liberties, veering far from reality.

By tuning in, you may find that many of your thoughts are based more on assumptions, fears, or worries than on actual truths. As you observe these stories, see if you can detach from them. You may be amused, even relieved, to see the fiction within them. Becoming aware of this storytelling allows us to step out of the funk and into the present moment, where we’re free to see life more clearly.

You Are So Much More
You are not simply the sum of your actions, emotions, or thoughts. You are a creator, an observer, and a participant in life.

So, engage fully in your experiences; don’t attach your self-worth to them. Self-reflection allows us to see reactions as reactions, not the essence of who we are.

Recognize and allow your feelings without judgment, and find peace knowing they are not permanent.

 

By noticing life’s constant flow, we become more willing participants in its magic.

Laugh at yourself, appreciate life’s movement through you, and remember that nothing, good or bad, is here to stay.

Each day brings new experiences and fresh perspectives—life invites us to keep growing and rediscovering.