What is this article about? Nowadays people often rush through life, measuring our worth by achievements and constantly chasing the next goal. But true significance lies not in how much we accomplish, but in the moments we take the time to cherish and the authenticity with which we live them.
English level: middle
In the Japanese animated series Frieren at the Funeral, the titular character is an elf whose long lifespan makes years or even decades feel fleeting. To her, a ten-year adventure is but a brief moment, a perspective that sharply contrasts with that of her human companions. Through her journey, the story highlights just how precious even a single second can be for mortals. While Frieren can afford to linger in one place for months or even years without concern, her friends do not have that luxury. Yet, her unhurried nature teaches a valuable lesson—how to fully enjoy what you love without constantly worrying about time, living in the moment, and, ultimately, being yourself.
words to learn:
to cherish - to love, protect, and care for someone or something that is important to you
authenticity (noun) - the quality of being real or true
elf (noun) - an imaginary being, often like a small person with pointed ears, in popular stories
fleeting (adj) - short or quick
to linger - to take a long time to leave or disappear
Another character in this story, the human Himmel, also reinforces this idea. As a hero, his duty was to fight demons that constantly oppressed people. Frieren embarked on her remarkable ten-year journey with him, a journey that would have been much shorter had they headed straight for the Demon King’s defeat. But Himmel always stopped to help anyone in need (and sometimes to spend an entire day posing for a statue). He was not in a rush to achieve a goal that, in theory, would have brought him fame. He was genuine, true to himself, never ignoring those in need. In the end, ordinary people remembered and admired him not for slaying ultimate evil, but for the simplest acts of kindness, which were his true authenticity and sincerity.
In a world where a person’s worth is often measured by their list of accomplishments, it is easy to fall into the trap of an endless race for results. The modern culture of achievement dictates that you must constantly move forward, achieve goals, and earn recognition, without wasting a second or allowing yourself to slow down. Being productive has become almost synonymous with being worthy, as if a person’s value depends solely on how much they accomplish. However, achieving a goal is not the only path to significance. True fulfillment comes not just from reaching milestones but from the moments in between—the experiences, the learning and the connections made along the way. Be yourself, not rushing to live for the sake of ticking off achievements on a list of successes, but taking the time to notice the beauty in the process, to appreciate the small joys and to embrace the journey itself. After all, is not that the real value of time?
words to learn:
to reinforce - If something reinforces an idea or opinion, it provides more proof or support for it and makes it seem true
to embark - to go on to a ship or an aircraft
to defeat - to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition
sincerity (noun) - honesty
accomplishment (noun) - something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work or effort
solely (adverb) - being one only
fulfillment (noun) - a feeling of happiness because you are doing what you intended to do in life
milestone (noun) - an important event in the development or history of something or in someone’s life
sake (noun) - an advantage or benefit
to tick off - to put a mark beside an item in a list to show that you have dealt with it
