I believe we should cherish every moment like it’s our last

“Die with memories, not dreams”

 

Have you ever looked back on a day and realized it was one of the most important moments of your life? The odd thing about the life we live is that we rarely recognize the value of a moment until it’s already passed.

 

I believe we should cherish every moment like it’s our last, because we don’t realize its true value until it's gone. A time that made me truly understand this idea was when my father passed away.

 

I remember my dad and I were on the golf course; we decided to play a few holes after I wrapped up hockey. We were playing and it got to about the fifth or sixth hole, and he hit a terrible shot – and when I say terrible, I mean terrible. He absolutely threw his club out of anger. I remember yelling, “Hey, your club went farther than the ball.” Of course, I snickered and laughed. Every time I would say something like this, he would say, “Ha ha, funny, you dick.” This was something I always found hilarious and always took for granted. After he passed, I realized how much I miss getting called a dick by him. Not because I liked getting called that but because it was the moment my dad and I shared.

 

All the time we spent together, and I never really thought much of it; always as just a regular day with him. But since his passing I realized how meaningful all that time actually was.  What felt normal before became something I wished and begged that I could go back to, day after day. This experience taught me a clear life lesson: Life doesn't announce important moments while they're happening. That's why being present and appreciating all the little things and the people you love is super important.

 

Another story along these lines happened last year: I remember telling him I was struggling with hockey and I vividly recall the next few words he spoke, he said, “Enjoy the game you love most, and please have a smile on your face because life’s too short not to have fun along the way.” He couldn’t have been more right; what he said didn’t solely have to do with hockey. When I thought deeper on this since his passing I came to realize that what he truly meant was, “That time passing bye is gone forever,” and that when you look back 10 years later, you won’t remember the small bumps along the road, but you will remember the twists and the turns you did with all of your friends and family. To some that might just mean the failures and the success. To me that means all the memories you created with those you care about, luckily that's something we can carry with us forever.

 

If we value the moments after they're gone, we miss our chance to actually live in them while they matter most. Now, some might say it’s unrealistic to constantly think about the value of every moment or that you may not be able to always be in the moment every day. And yes, that’s true, but that’s not the goal of this speech. The goal isn’t perfection but awareness. So please, instead of waiting until moments become memories. Recognize their value while you're still living in it. Appreciate the people, the conversations, and the little things, because one day you won’t be living in those moments anymore. You will be remembering them.