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30 October 2026

We spend a surprising part of life preparing for a future that rarely arrives exactly as expected. We save our best words for the right occasion, postpone visits until we have more time, and imagine that people we love will always be available for another conversation.

Then an ordinary day changes something.

A familiar voice is no longer there to answer the telephone. A friend moves away. An opportunity passes while we are waiting for circumstances to become more convenient. What seemed safely postponed becomes impossible, and we discover that time had never promised us an extension.

This does not mean we should abandon plans or live carelessly. Preparation matters. Ambition gives direction to effort. But there is a difference between planning for tomorrow and treating today as though it has no value of its own.

A conversation need not be profound to matter. A visit need not be an occasion. Sometimes, giving someone our undivided attention is the most meaningful thing we can offer.

Life rarely announces which ordinary moment will later become precious.

Perhaps wisdom is not simply knowing what deserves our attention. It is recognising that the opportunity to give it may not remain indefinitely.

Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com