Easy Suffering VS Difficult Suffering
A good friend who is retired in his early forties told me that he is living a very unfulfilled life. He lives with his sister. He survives on day-trading in NASDAQ and Dow Jones. Most of his waking time are spend on watching pirated streaming services. Does not exercise and could not afford go out.
I would check on him every few months by asking him out for a meal. During the meal, we will catch up on each other's news. He has been "retired" for nearly 3 years. Before his retirement, he told me that he will exercise and write every day. His aim is to be an author. His monthly expenses is less than 250USD or less than Ringgit 1,000. He has no loan and does not need to pay for accommodation. He can make a living by share trading and on the dividends of his investments. Thus far, he has not published or written anything. He did not know that I have been writing this blog for nearly 2.5 years.
He cannot see himself working like I do and I cannot see myself living like him. There are two types of suffering. One is easy, he took the easy way out by not facing both work and life's challenges. He has the joy of freedom ad living on his term. Now he suffers the suffering of unfulfillment.
The other type of suffering is difficult suffering, I work hard, long hours and confront unscrupulous individuals. I feel drained, useless and unfulfilled. But I have the joy of providing to the family. What I can give to the family is little, but I am proud that I managed to give. No one can take that away from me.
There is no right or wrong answer in our choices. What's important there is no regret in our action and we own the consequences. Whatever we want from our live is our choice. There is always the easy option and difficult option. Choose wisely.