Nothing always stays the same. You don't stay happy forever. You

In the steady, reflective words of Cat Zingano, warrior of both the cage and the heart, there resounds an eternal truth: “Nothing always stays the same. You don’t stay happy forever. You don’t stay sad forever.” It is a saying born not from ease, but from endurance — from a life that has known both victory and loss, triumph and grief. In these simple words, there lies the ancient law of impermanence, the rhythm by which all things rise and fall, bloom and fade, live and die. For Cat Zingano, these words are not poetry; they are survival. They speak of a truth she has lived — that change is the only constant, and that to accept this truth is to find freedom amid the chaos of existence.

To understand her wisdom, one must first know her story. Cat Zingano, a fierce mixed martial artist, once stood at the pinnacle of her career — a champion, a mother, and a symbol of strength. Yet her path was marred by tragedy. She lost her husband to despair, battled injuries that threatened her craft, and bore the weight of sorrow that might have broken lesser souls. From this crucible came her insight: that no joy is eternal, and no pain is unending. Life, like the tide, retreats and returns, forever shifting between light and shadow. Her words echo the same wisdom spoken by sages of old — that to live wisely is to walk calmly through both the sunshine and the storm, knowing neither will last forever.

The ancients, too, taught this truth. The Stoics of Greece and Rome spoke of the circle of fortune, how prosperity and loss turn endlessly upon one another. The Buddha, far to the East, named this truth anicca — the impermanence of all things. The mighty empires that once ruled the world, the heroes whose names thundered across history — all have faded into silence. So too do our moments of joy and our seasons of sorrow. The wise see this not with despair, but with serenity. For if happiness cannot last, neither can suffering; if pain has its hour, healing will have its dawn.

Consider the story of King David, who rose from shepherd to ruler, from triumph to despair. When he lost his child, his grief was immeasurable, yet when comfort came, he did not cling to either joy or sorrow. “To everything there is a season,” he would later write, “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” These words, spoken in the dawn of civilization, mirror Zingano’s own: that life’s constancy lies not in stillness, but in motion. The river flows ever onward, and though it may bend and rage, it never ceases to move.

There is power in this acceptance. Many cling desperately to moments of happiness, fearing their loss; others drown in sadness, believing it eternal. But Zingano’s wisdom invites balance. To embrace change is to be unbroken by it. The one who understands that life is flux can stand amid turmoil with calm eyes, for they know — this, too, shall pass. When joy visits, they welcome it; when sorrow comes, they endure it. For both are teachers, and both must depart in their time. This is not resignation, but mastery — the art of walking steadily through the storm without losing one’s footing.

Yet, her words carry not only philosophy, but compassion. For she speaks as one who has suffered and risen — not once, but many times. Her life is a reminder that endurance is born not from hardness, but from acceptance. To resist the changing tides of life is to exhaust oneself; to flow with them is to survive. This truth, though ancient, must be relearned by every soul: that peace comes not from controlling life’s movement, but from harmonizing with it.

And so, the lesson is clear. Do not fear change, for it is the heartbeat of life. When you are happy, give thanks, but do not cling. When you are sad, be patient, for healing is already on its way. Let every moment — joyful or painful — be your teacher. Like the seasons, let your heart know both warmth and cold, growth and rest. In doing so, you will not be broken by life’s shifting nature, but strengthened by it.

For in the end, Cat Zingano’s words remind us that the only permanence is impermanence itself. The stars may fall, the heart may break, yet both the night and the pain will pass. And when they do, the dawn will come again — quiet, golden, and full of promise. So walk gently, dear listener, for you walk upon the turning wheel of time, where every sorrow is temporary and every joy, a blessing to be cherished before it, too, drifts into memory.