He came to understand that time was an unstoppable force, a relentless tide sweeping us along, ready or not. Take a good look around you. Absorb what's in front of you, because in the grand scheme of things, it's all as fleeting as smoke in the wind. What you have now: joy, peace, or chaos, will soon be a memory. Everything evolves, crumbles, or vanishes. Savor these moments while you can; they're more ephemeral than you'd like to believe.