Lately I've been feeling a bit down.

It's not because of failure, nor because of lack of money,
but because I suddenly realized something quite cruel.

People come and go, tea cools down, and that's actually not scary.
What’s truly frightening is that one day you'll realize,
even if the world keeps turning, it no longer has much to do with you.

You existed, you tried, you struggled,
but apart from family and a few friends,
no one will mention you again.

What about a little further down the line?

Even those who remember you will eventually leave,
the incense, the offerings, the name, the photos,
will gradually fade away.

Like a drop of water falling into the river,
not even an echo remains.

So I suddenly started to admire those
who leave even a little light in time.
Big or small,
at least in some era, they were truly remembered.

But for ordinary people,
that kind of light is too far away.

After understanding this, I felt a bit more at ease.

Maybe living isn't about being remembered forever,
but about making sure that today,
doesn't pass in vain.