There's no need to look too far into the future or the past.

In the hustle and bustle of life, many of us are taught to constantly look toward the future, to chase dreams and ambitions with an unyielding desire for more. Yet, the wise Ashleigh Barty offers us a profound truth when she says, "There's no need to look too far into the future or the past. Enjoy the moment." These words, though simple, speak to the heart of the human experience. For the greatest treasures in life are often found not in the distant horizon or in the memories of what has passed, but in the present moment, the now.

The ancients knew this truth well. Socrates, the great philosopher, encouraged his followers to seek wisdom and peace in the present, rather than obsessing over what was to come or what had already passed. He once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living," but this is not to be confused with a life of endless planning or longing. No, to examine one’s life is to fully immerse oneself in the experience of being alive, to embrace the present, and to savor each fleeting moment. For the past and the future are but illusions—what is real, what is tangible, is what is before us, in the very breath we take.

Ashleigh Barty's wisdom aligns with the ancient teachings of Buddhism, which teaches that attachment to the past and anxiety about the future only lead to suffering. The Buddha, in his enlightenment, discovered that the path to true peace lies in living in the present, in observing the flow of life without clinging to it. The mind often wanders into regret for days gone by or into worry about the days yet to come, but the true joy of life lies in freeing oneself from these attachments. The future and the past are outside of our grasp; only the present is in our hands.

The moment is where life unfolds in all its beauty. Take, for example, the great warrior Alexander the Great. His life was filled with conquests and ambition, yet there were times when he would stop and marvel at the beauty of the lands he had conquered. In those rare moments, he allowed himself to enjoy the present, to feel the wind and appreciate the world around him. Even the greatest of kings and conquerors must, at times, pause and recognize that the greatest victory is not found in battle, but in the awareness of the present moment.

The great challenge, however, is that we often allow the future to consume us. We plan, we worry, we dream, but in doing so, we miss the opportunities for peace and happiness that are waiting right before us. Leonardo da Vinci, the genius of the Renaissance, understood this well. While he worked tirelessly on his inventions, paintings, and studies, he often took moments to enjoy the simple pleasures of life—listening to the birds, feeling the warmth of the sun, or contemplating the beauty of nature. His genius lay not only in his intellectual brilliance but in his ability to find inspiration and joy in the present.

We must ask ourselves, as Ashleigh Barty invites us to, what would our lives look like if we truly embraced the present? What if, instead of constantly looking for something more or worrying about what may come, we fully immersed ourselves in the experience of now? The lesson here is clear: we must let go of the burdens of the past and the future, for they only weigh us down. To live in the present is to truly live, to allow our hearts to be open and our minds free.

The practical action we can take is simple but profound. Pause—in the midst of the busyness of life, take a moment to breathe, to feel, to observe. Whether it is the laughter of a loved one, the stillness of dawn, or the satisfaction of a job well done, these moments are what make life rich. As the ancients would say, life is not measured by the number of days we live, but by the depth with which we experience them. The future will come when it does, and the past is already gone; but in the present, we hold all the power to truly live.

Let us, then, take to heart the wisdom of Ashleigh Barty. Let us cherish the now, for it is the only time we truly have. In doing so, we unlock the power to live fully, to appreciate the beauty of life, and to find peace amidst the chaos. For in the end, the moment is all we ever really possess. And in that moment, we find all that we need.