The 86,400 Investment: Are You Spending Your Daily Fortune?

I recently received a message from a dear friend who found a story online that resonated with her deeply. After reading it, I knew I had to share it here. It is a powerful reminder of what we often take for granted, and it’s a story I want to keep close to my heart.

The Magic Bank Account

Imagine that you had won this prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules:

1. Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.

3. You may only spend it.

4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400 for that day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning. At any time it can say, “Game Over!" It can close the account and you will never receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

Your Daily Fortune

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for.

Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every penny, and use it all. Because you knew it would be replenished in the morning, right?

Actually this is not a game, it is for real – and you are already an active participant.

Shocked? You should be, because it is true. Read on.

1. Each of us is already a winner of this prize. We just can't seem to see it. For the prize is time.

2. Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.

3. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.

4. What we haven't used up that day is forever lost.

5. Yesterday is forever gone.

Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time WITHOUT WARNING.

So my friend, what will you do today with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars. Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think. So take care of yourself, be happy, love dearly and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.

Start spending!

When I first read this story, one thought stood out clearly: this is an invitation to live today. Not yesterday, not tomorrow — just today.

And that is exactly what meditation continues to teach me.

Meditation gently brings me back to the present moment, again and again. Instead of reliving the past or getting lost in worries, expectations, or fantasies about the future, it teaches me to live sincerely — doing the best I can now. Tomorrow will come on its own, naturally, when it’s ready.

With my dad living with Parkinson’s disease and my brother struggling with depression, this message has become deeply personal. I send them a text every morning, reminding them to live just today and to do their best today. Interestingly, as I do this for them, it has also become one of the most powerful reminders for myself. It helps me see, very clearly, that today is truly all we ever have.

That naturally leads to another question: how do we live fully and truly?

How do we “spend” this precious daily gift of time?

This story reminded me of a simple yet profound truth expressed in these words:

Nothing in nature lives for itself.

The rivers do not drink their own water;

the trees do not eat their own fruit;

the sun does not shine on itself

and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves.

Living for others is a rule of nature.

The key, I believe, is to develop the mind of nature.

To understand that we are not separate from the world around us — that, in truth, the Universe is who we really are.

The more I meditate, the clearer it becomes that real change begins with the mind. When the mind is cleansed and clear, meaningful words turn into meaningful actions. From that clarity, living for others doesn’t feel like an obligation — it feels natural.

I hope this post reaches someone who needs it today.

And I hope it gently inspires you to spend your 86,400 seconds with awareness, kindness, and sincerity.

Thank you for reading!