Life Must Be Lived, Not Believed

Yesterday, I watched an interview that left a deep impression on me.

It was the story of a mother who lost three of her four children—some to illness, others to suicide. Her pain was immense, yet her strength was even more striking.

She wasn’t a superhero or someone with magical coping mechanisms.

She was simply human. Just like you. Just like me.

But she had learned something we often forget.

Life must be lived, not just believed in.

How often do we catch ourselves saying, “I wish I could have…” or “If only things were different…”?

We get lost in regrets about the past or fantasies about the future.

Meanwhile, the present moment quietly slips by, unappreciated.

The truth is, joy doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It blooms when we decide to let it in.

Even in hardship, there is beauty—perhaps in the laughter of a child or the warmth of the sun on your face.

Life isn’t always easy. That’s a fact.

Sometimes pain lasts longer than we expect, and shadows linger. But light always finds a way in.

I remember a time when my own light faded.

Two years ago, I had a falling-out with my family. It was a dark chapter, full of anger, sadness, and regret.

I lost sight of joy.

But my wife reminded me of something important—life isn’t meant to be endured.

It’s meant to be lived.

That shift in mindset didn’t erase my pain overnight. It didn’t fix broken relationships immediately.

But it gave me the courage to keep going, to keep looking for the light ahead.

And slowly, I found it.

The woman in the interview didn’t have all the answers, and neither do I.

But I do know this: life is precious.

Even when it hurts. Even when it feels unfair.

So stop waiting for things to be perfect. Stop letting fear or regret keep you frozen.

Breathe in this moment. Embrace the people around you. Allow yourself to hope.

Because life isn’t about believing it could be better.

It’s about living it, right now, as it is.