The truth behind the phrase “nothing lasts forever” chills me to the bone.

“Nothing lasts forever” is one of those sayings that a friend can bring up in a conversation and the room instantly turns still, waiting for someone to break the awkward silence with a more upbeat conversation.

In that moment, I am the one who sits back and waits for someone else to break the silence while I reminisce on the undeniable truth.

Part of the reason why this phrase bothers me so much is I need to know what the future holds. I need to be in control of the situations at hand.

But somehow I am not immune to the cold truth: nothing lasts forever. When plans are wrecked and goals seem out of reach, I easily get discouraged and wonder what my next move will be.

Despite these concerns, I have learned a few things in my time such as, I can’t control anything, except myself. Most importantly I have learned that losing sight of a certain goal is not the end of something, but rather the beginning. It’s a fresh start and a new reality.

I’ve always been a believer in the idea that you cannot know what happiness feels like if you have never felt sadness. It is the same in which you cannot honestly know what is out there for you without losing everything.

Sometimes losing sight of your goal is actually opening up an opportunity for something greater. In order to truly be open to new opportunities, you have to let go of the goal that might be consuming you. If you never let go, you will never know what you are missing out on.

Nothing lasts forever, but that isn’t a bad thing. Everything changes at some point, but what matters is that you always remember and carry on. You pick up the pieces and try to find your place in this world.

Most of all, I believe that when you finally do find your place, it will last a long time. It may change over time, but knowing your place in the world will always keep you fulfilled.

With that certainty, some things are forever.

Column by Hunter? Harrell, Features Editor