Your Time Is Limited

Life in words

Your Time Is Limited

Everyone on Earth Comes with an Expiry Date

-Prasantiram

          I was watching a speech on Youtube.  I first watched that Stanford Commence-ment speech, I wasn’t expecting it to linger in my heart the way it did. But the simplicity with which SteveJobs spoke of life’s temporary nature – not with gloom, but with fierce clarity —, made me sit still. It reminded me of something we all know but rarely acknowledge: we are all living with an expiry date.Those words weren’t delivered in a boardroom. They were spoken to by a graduating class, in the middle of a speech that was less about achievement and more about awareness, about living a life anchored in purpose, not fear.“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”What a radical invitation – to live truly, not to impress or conform, but to become.Not tomorrow. Not someday. But now.

          We are all born with invisible ink etched onto our souls (we may call it with a lot of names)  – an expiry date that none of us can read. And yet, we live as if we are infinite, caught in routines, regrets, and someday lists that stretch endlessly in our minds. But what if we truly lived like time was limited? Not in fear, but in reverence. 

          Think of it like a journey. When you travel, you prepare an itinerary,don’t you? (unless you have an unexpected travel) ,and you know your return ticket.In the same way, life also comes with its limits — and within that time, what matters is how you live it. The memories you create, the kindness you share, the service you offer, the love you give, the children you raise, the community you support,the values you restore,the people you connect with. These become your true itinerary. They make the journey meaningful not just for you, but for everyone around you.

          As a human constantly torn between duty and desire, I often find myself postponing the small joys and important pauses. I catch myself saying, “I’ll read that book later,” “I’ll call her tomorrow,” or “I’ll play with them once I finish this task.” “I will write something later”  But what if time doesn’t grant that later? 

          And yet, we often postpone. We procrastinate, believing there will always be more time. I learned how fragile that belief was when my husband was once suspected of cancer. For a moment, our world collapsed — our children were young, and suddenly life felt uncertain,purposeless,. Thankfully, it was only a suspicion, but the lesson stayed. From then on, we began to plan wisely and live more meaningfully — with deeper love, stronger gratitude, and the joy of knowing every day is a gift.

          I also learned how dangerous postponing can be. For years, I kept telling myself I would rewrite my grandparents’ books and surprise my parents with them. It was something that would have made them so happy. But I delayed, thinking there would always be time. Now they are no longer here to see it, and that chance is gone. That pain taught me that dreams and gestures of love should not be put aside and they never wait. 

          I have come to realize that the urgency of life is not in rushing, but in noticing. In being present. In embracing the fleeting beauty of an ordinary day. A child’s laughter echoing through a room. The scent of wet earth after rain.(I remember back india and my villages and towns)and  a quiet evening filled with unspoken comfort.

          We often postpone what truly matters — forgiveness, expression, connection — waiting for a better time, a quieter season, or a more perfect version of ourselves. But what if that better time never comes?

          Children remind us of life’s immediacy. They don’t say, “I need to feel seen today,” but they ask, “Will you play with me?” They don’t schedule affection; they offer it freely. Their sense of time is not linear — it’s emotional.They tug at our hands not just for play, but for presence. They don’t ask if we’re busy. They ask if we’ll sit with them in their world — a world that may not exist tomorrow in the same way. They live in moments, not calendars. And perhaps, that’s a wisdom we forget as we grow older.

          When we remember that everyone around us is also here for only a brief while, our anger softens. Our priorities shift. We choose presence over perfection, and meaning over performance.

          Life often feels like an endless race — work, responsibilities, expectations, and the constant pull to do more, be more, achieve more. But the truth is simple, though often forgotten: our time is limited.

          We spend so much of life pleasing others, chasing recognition, or trying to fit into molds created by society. We wait for the “right moment” to follow our passions, to speak our truth, to live fully. But moments slip away quietly, and in the end, what remains is the question: did I live my own life, or someone else’s?

          When we realize how fragile and short life is, clarity comes. The small irritations, the endless comparisons, the pressure to prove ourselves — they begin to matter less. What matters more is the time we spend with loved ones, the dreams we dare to chase, the words we leave behind, and the kindness we offer.

          “Your time is limited” is not a warning, but a gentle reminder. To pause. To choose wisely. To stop postponing the life that belongs to you. Every day offers a chance to live closer to your truth, to walk a little lighter, and to spend your time on what really matters.

          Because in the end, it’s not about how long we lived, but how deeply we lived.Your time is limited. But within that limit lies your power — to shape memories, touch lives, and leave behind echoes that time itself cannot erase.so that whenever the return ticket comes, the journey feels complete.

          Don’t wait for the perfect time to live fully.Live like your expiry date could be tomorrow.
Because one day, it will be.

          Because in the end, it’s not about how long we lived, but how deeply we lived.

*****