From Is to Was: A Reflection on Time, Loss, and the Beauty of Fleeting Moments

There is a quiet, inevitable shift in life that often goes unnoticed until we pause to reflect—the moment when is becomes was. Time does not ask for permission; it moves forward relentlessly, carrying everything in its wake. One day, someone is alive, vibrant, and full of dreams; the next, they are spoken of in the past tense. A job we once held, a friendship we once cherished, a love we once embraced—everything is subject to this transition. The present is only temporary, and sooner or later, it becomes history. But do we ever stop to think about how quickly this happens? Do we truly appreciate the moments before they slip away?

We wake up each morning, call a loved one, chat with a friend, or send a simple message to someone. In that moment, they exist in our lives—they are with us. But life is unpredictable. The person we laughed with yesterday may be gone today. The one who picked up our call today may no longer be able to answer tomorrow. A sudden illness, an unexpected accident, or the quiet passing of time takes them away. And just like that, the person who is a part of our lives becomes someone who was. We scroll through old chats, replay voice notes, and read past messages, struggling to believe that they are truly gone. But they are, and we can do nothing about it. If we had known the last time would truly be the last, would we have held on a little longer? Would we have said the words we left unspoken?

Sometimes, we don’t even realize when something is slipping away. When was the last time you played outside as a child? The last time your father carried you on his shoulders? The last time you sat with your grandmother and listened to her stories? Did you know it was the last, or did you assume there would be more time? We move forward, chasing dreams and responsibilities, until one day, we look back and realize that is has long turned into was without us even noticing. And then we long for the days we once took for granted.

I miss those moments as a child growing up in my village, where nights were lit not by electricity but by the moon and stars. I miss the games we played—Pilolo, Circle oo Circle, Antoakyire, Counters Ball, Chaskele, Chem Pe, Pampanaa, Alikoto, Traditional Cloth Parachutes, Ampe, and Tumatu—with my sisters and friends. The role-playing games like Police and Thieves, Father and Mother, or even the not-so-fun ones like Zanzama and Kpitinge. These were not just activities; they defined our childhoods. They were our cartoons and video games before the era of technology. They were the essence of our cultural fabric, binding communities and generations together. But when did we stop playing? When did life become so busy that we left behind the things that once made us happiest?

I miss waking up without worrying about where my next meal would come from, knowing that every Christmas, I was entitled to new attire and shoes, no matter what. I miss the innocence of believing that the world was simple and safe. To miss these things now means that all that was once an is has now become a was. And that realization stings.

This transition is not limited to people alone. The things we used to do, the passions we once pursued, and the routines we followed all change over time. There was a time we ran freely, played without worry, and had all the energy in the world. But age creeps in, and our bodies no longer respond the same way. The hobbies we loved, the games we played, the activities that once defined us—they all fade away. One day, we can dance all night, and the next, our legs betray us. One day, we are full of ideas and enthusiasm, and the next, we struggle to find the motivation to keep going. The energy we once had becomes a distant memory, a reminder that nothing lasts forever. Did we think we would stay young forever? Did we ever imagine a day when we would be unable to do the things that once came so easily?

Friendships, no matter how deep, are not immune to time’s effects. There were people we could not go a day without speaking to. We shared secrets, dreams, and promises of a lifetime together. But life happens. Responsibilities, distance, misunderstandings—one day, we wake up and realize that we have not spoken in months, perhaps years. The friend who is a part of our daily routine slowly becomes someone who was. We no longer talk the way we used to, not because we stopped caring, but because life took us in different directions. Some friendships end in silence, others in conflict, but in the end, the result is the same: what once was will never be the same again. If you were to call that friend today, would it still feel the same? Or has too much time passed?

Love follows the same pattern. There was a time we believed we had found "the one." We shared our world with them, made plans for the future, and imagined growing old together. But love, like everything else, changes. A misunderstanding, a broken promise, or simply the passage of time turns passion into memory. The one who is our everything today might become just a name from our past. The words "I love you" turn into "I loved you." The person who once held our hand may now walk a different path, and what we once thought was forever becomes just another chapter in our story. Did we fight hard enough for love, or did we let it slip away without realizing it?

Even our careers are not exempt. The job we once dedicated our lives to, the title we proudly carried, will one day belong to someone else. Today, we are recognized, respected, and needed. But time moves forward. One day, our position will be filled by someone younger, someone with fresher ideas, and the workplace will move on without us. We will go from "He is our colleague" to "He was one of us." The chair we once occupied will no longer be ours, and soon, we will be just another name in the company’s history. When that time comes, will we have lived beyond our work, or will we be left wondering where all the years went?

One day, just as we have wept for others, it will be our turn. People will gather, recount stories of who we were, and bid us farewell. The world will move on, and we will become part of history. The names we once called every day will call us no more. The messages we once received will stop coming. And just like that, we, too, will go from is to was.

But before that happens, we still have the gift of the present—the opportunity to live fully, love deeply, and make meaningful connections. So, what can we do while we are still in the is?

Cherish every moment, for the people in your life today may not be there tomorrow. Say what needs to be said—do not wait until it is too late to express love, gratitude, or forgiveness. Live with purpose and make each day count. Create lasting memories, because one day, all that will be left of you are the stories people tell. Make them worth telling.

If today was your last day in the is, what would you leave behind? Would your presence be remembered with love, or would you be forgotten in the silence of time? Would you regret the things you never said, the love you never gave, the moments you let slip away?

Life is a fleeting moment between is and was. Let us not take it for granted. Let us live with intention, love without reservation, and cherish the beauty of every fleeting moment. For in the end, it is not the years in our life that matter, but the life in our years.

#Puobabanga

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