Don't we all take time for granted?

We say, "I'll call tomorrow."

"I'll stop by next week."

"We'll celebrate soon."

But sometimes, tomorrow never comes.

The Story That Changed Everything

Here is one of the stories that drove us to create WhenIWasHere.org.

A close friend lost her father suddenly. In the weeks that followed, she kept replaying their last conversation, hoping to find something meaningful to hold onto. But it had been just another ordinary exchange, quick and distracted. She kept wishing she had told him more. Wishing he had said more. Wishing, simply, that there had been time.

And then, a few months later, a letter arrived. It was something he had written a year earlier and tucked away, never knowing how much it would come to mean. In it, he told her how proud he was of the woman she had become, and how much he loved her.

Reading those words felt like he had reached across time to sit beside her again. That letter didn't erase the loss, but it gave her comfort she never thought she would feel. It reminded her that love doesn't end when life does, and that words written today can echo long after we're gone.

The Power of Written Words

It's stories like hers that inspired us to build When I Was Here. A space where anyone can leave messages for their loved ones, to be delivered when they're needed most. Because none of us knows how much time we'll have, but we can choose not to let our words go unsaid.

Think about the conversations you've been meaning to have. The things you want to tell your children about your own childhood. The advice you'd give to your future self. The love you want to express to someone who means everything to you.

These aren't just words—they're bridges across time. They're ways for you to be present in moments when you can't physically be there. They're gifts that keep giving, long after they're written.

Why We Wait (And Why We Shouldn't)

We wait because we think we have time. We wait because we're not sure what to say. We wait because we think the moment has to be perfect. We wait because we're afraid of getting it wrong.

But here's what we've learned: the perfect moment is now. The perfect words are the ones that come from your heart. And getting it wrong is better than not saying anything at all.

Every day, people around the world wish they had said more, written more, shared more. Don't let that be you. Don't let your love go unspoken, your wisdom unshared, your stories untold.

What You Can Do Today

Start small. Write a note to your child about something you love about them. Leave a message for your future self about what you're learning right now. Create a letter for someone you care about, to be opened on a special day.

You don't have to write a novel. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to start. Because every word you write today is a gift you're giving to tomorrow.

Remember: the words we wish we'd said are often the ones that matter most. Don't wait for the perfect moment. Create it. Write it. Share it. Because time is precious, but your words can be timeless.