Only at the Age of 80.

 In school, I was consumed by what others thought of my stammer. But seven years later, I realized everyone was preoccupied with their own lives, and my stammer was irrelevant. They had moved on after school, and few remembered me fondly. This is the harsh truth: people worry about others' opinions, but in reality, it's inconsequential.

I sometimes reflect on the bullies and their behavior, because back then, I sought their approval, thinking the world revolved around them. What's tragic is that we squander time worrying about what others say and think, only to discover we've run out of time. Young people struggle to discern reality from fiction. Gossip is fiction, and it's hard to grasp until you're 80. No one meant anything.

The youth stage is deceptive, making us think we'll never reach 70 or 80. I'm fortunate to understand this at a young age. Things only the 80 get to understand. At 80, you realize your life was the only thing that truly mattered. Everything you did in your 20s has consequences; how you prepared for retirement counts.

At that age, your best friends who encouraged your foolish decisions will be long gone. The person you prioritized over your partner will be a regret if they're still in your life. The success of your children, whom you neglected for someone else, will torment you daily. You'll wish for a second chance, but it will be too late. Regret is the worst thing to live with, and you only understand it at 80.

People think money is everything and do extreme things to acquire it. But here's the truth: at 80, you realize everything you struggled to earn was a chase after wind. Money brings pleasure but denies you life. History remembers those who make a positive impact on someone's life, not the wealthy. Money is sweet but becomes unpleasant when you need someone. People harm others, unaware it's all the same in the end. You understand this at 80.

Only at 80 do you realize no one talked about you, and the grudges you carried meant nothing. Gossip, hatred, and selfishness are fiction. You were deceiving yourself. The smell of death becomes stronger at 80. Reality reveals the truth: everything was a lie.

Most of us are trapped in a deceiving world of fiction where everything seems infinite, but in reality, everything has a timer, and some things never mattered. At 80, you understand it was all about your life and your life only. What you thought was life was just a series of episodes. You miss life when death is near, and you regret your life when neglect your purpose. Turning 80 is just a day away. Only at 80 do you get to understand.