Occasionally I’ll get a discussion at my classroom that will not simply be part of an English tutorial but a better way for me to learn Chinese culture. One of my topics would be to discuss whether working hard for a better future or working less for a better today was more effective with their present lives. There was, of course, no response to this and the reactions were mixed. Many said the Chinese traditional approach is to work as hard as is possible for their future of marriage, jobs, and a steady life. Most of my students wouldn’t hesitate to get married this instant. They’re about 20-years old. I just wanted a laid back discussion in English. It created interesting responses but one reaction specially caught my attention which was that Money is Unlimited but Life is Limited.
It got me thinking about the life I chose for myself. While I worked for corporate America, I was living for tomorrow. I was setting a path for the better future because I was programmed to think I didn’t have sufficient. The norm was to arise the corporate ladder and so I did. It still wasn’t enough. Once I made additional money, I wanted more income. Moving apartments and the continuously growing number of bills felt perpetual. All this made me stop living for the moment and worry too much of what I would have later on.
I am not saying not to plan for your future but rather to balance your life. Simply, to understand that you are breathing today. You can use travel to re-shape your life.
Some individuals went around interviewing dying patients but not a single person said they regretted not making more money or not working harder. All of them seemed to state their regrets weren’t having to spend more time with the people they cherished and not traveling more and relating more to the world and the planet.
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