The future hasn't happened yet and the past is gone. So I think

"The future hasn't happened yet and the past is gone. So I think the only moment we have is right here and now, and I try to make the best of those moments, the moments that I'm in." With these profound words, Annie Lennox illuminates the timeless wisdom that has echoed through the ages: the present moment is all we truly possess. In our pursuit of greatness, in our longing for what has passed or what is yet to come, we often forget that the only true reality is the one we live in now. Lennox’s reflection speaks to the heart of the human experience, where the future remains an unknown and the past is a memory, both of which we cannot change. The only power we have lies in the present—this very moment.

This truth, though simple, is ancient in its wisdom. Socrates spoke of the importance of living consciously, emphasizing that one must attend to the present and focus on self-examination in the here and now. He understood that the only life worth living was one where the mind was present, not caught in the past or distracted by an uncertain future. Likewise, Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, reminded us that we cannot control external events or what is to come; we can only control how we respond in the present. The Stoics believed that true freedom came from embracing the present moment without clinging to what was or what could be. It was in accepting the present with all its imperfections that one could find peace and fulfillment.

Lennox’s words echo these ancient teachings, urging us to focus on the now. The past, though it may be full of memories and lessons, is forever gone—a shadow of what once was. To dwell on the past, to regret or mourn what we can no longer change, is to waste the precious energy that could be used to shape the present. The future, too, is not within our grasp, no matter how much we may dream or worry about what lies ahead. As the ancient Chinese sage Laozi wrote, “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”

Consider, for example, the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who, despite his fame, struggled with the distractions of both the past and the future. His pursuit of perfection often led him to linger on past failures or anxiously think of what he had yet to achieve. However, it was in his moments of focused presence, when he threw himself into the task at hand—be it sketching, painting, or learning—that he created the masterpieces we still admire today. Da Vinci's greatness did not come from his reflection on what was or what might be, but from his immersion in the present moment, where he poured his mind and soul into the work before him.

The struggle between past, present, and future is not a modern dilemma but a universal one. Alexander the Great, too, sought to conquer the world and establish an empire for the ages. Yet, despite his monumental achievements, he was often plagued by the fear of what was to come and the memory of past struggles. His desire to control the future led him to live in constant turmoil, never at peace with the world he had shaped. Had he focused on making the most of the present—appreciating the lands he had conquered and the legacy he had built—perhaps his life would have been filled with more joy and contentment.

The lesson we can draw from Lennox's reflection is that true power lies in the present. The future will come in its own time, and the past cannot be undone. Our focus must be on what we can do today. It is in this very moment that we can act, that we can become who we are meant to be. Whether it is in our work, our relationships, or our own inner growth, presence is the key to fulfillment. To live fully in the now is to honor life itself, to embrace the gifts we have right before us and give them our full attention.

Thus, let us follow Lennox’s example and the wisdom of the ancients—let us live deeply in the present. Recognize that the future is a horizon we can approach but never fully grasp, and the past is a river already crossed. Let us honor the present with our thoughts, our actions, and our presence, for it is in the now that we can truly shape the legacy we leave behind. In every moment, there is potential for greatness, for joy, and for connection—if only we open our hearts to what is before us. Now is the moment to act, and the future will unfold as it will, shaped by the choices we make today.