When I was a young boy, sometimes while asleep I clearly knew I was dreaming. I would even inform other people appearing in those dreams that it wasn’t going to last. On occasion, I would solemnly share that when I woke up they’d likely be gone.

In one particularly memorable dream, as I felt myself soon awakening, I had the big idea of bringing some physical object back with me – that is, from one world to the other.

That’s when I spotted a dollar bill on the ground and kneeled down in front of it. I grasped it with both hands while on my knees, staring intently at it to ensure it couldn’t possibly get away.

And slowly, I woke up.

As I did I saw the dollar disintegrate right in front of my eyes. I squeezed even more tightly. It felt just like sand sifting through my fingers at the beach.

Ultimately, I found myself kneeling on my bed. Hands clenched. Tightly squeezing nothing at all.

That was the last time I can recall ever being aware of dreaming while still asleep.

Having reached a much riper age, more recently this childhood memory comes back ever more often. To me it seems emblematic of what we all know on some level to be true. So true that it’s almost trite.

In short, most of the stuff we seem to focus on during our busy days eventually drifts through our fingers. Clenching our grasp is futile. There’s no stopping it from eventually slipping away.

Far more importantly, the people close by us in our lives won’t be here forever either. Whether we go before or after. Being together just doesn’t last.

I don’t mean to be morose. This is simply how it is.

But this immutable reality is also a source of inspiration… as it compels us not to miss out on the present. To take greater joy in what’s here to be enjoyed.

And to cherish those with whom we are close. To live as fully as possible in the moment while it remains within our tenuous grasp. Enough said.