Lately, there’s a local song trending on Instagram reels that says, “If I have nine lives…” And I’m so tired of hearing it. Tired because it’s overused. Most importantly, tired because it doesn’t even make sense. Literally, we only have one life. Figuratively… don’t you feel exhausted just trying to survive this one?

I’m already drained living one life lol.

I’m the type of person who tries so hard to avoid problems. I reread rules three times, do everything carefully, just to play it safe, and somehow, life still throws problems at me anyway. I’ve learned that problems are just part of living. And yes, I’m tired.

So when I hear people wishing to have multiple lives or to live a very long life… I wonder if that wish comes only from those who are genuinely enjoying their time here. Because how do you look at this world and still wish to stay longer?

There are people born into war. People trapped in structural poverty. People who work day and night just to afford a basic life, yet still get labeled lazy. People in power get richer by exploiting humans and nature, unchecked. Crime victims never receive justice. Everything is so unfair.

No matter how fortunate my life has been personally, I still cannot imagine willingly choosing to live longer in a world this unjust.

If I really had multiple lives, I wouldn’t want to live them all here. Not on repeat. Not in this same system. Not in a world where kindness feels outnumbered, and rest is treated like a luxury instead of a human need.

And do people wish for multiple lives not out of joy, but out of regret? Maybe they don’t want longer, but another chance. Another version. A reset. A version where they weren’t powerless. Where they weren’t just surviving.

But for me? I don’t want to live this same life nine times just to finally get it right.

I’d rather focus on living one life but living it deliberately.

I wish I could live with intention, not exhaustion.

If I only have one life, and I do, then I want to choose where my energy actually goes. I want to respond, not constantly react. I want to rest without guilt. I want to say no without I have to over-explaining.

And maybe that’s why I don’t romanticize having multiple lives. Because I haven’t even finished understanding this one. Let me survive this one properly first.