"Everything can be taken away from a man but one thing - the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
No one said life is easy. When we feel like there is nothing we could do and all we could see is darkness; don't fret, don't worry. He would not test us with something that we couldn't bear. There is always a way out.
These days, I think most people are always searching for instant gratification. A high consumption lifestyle seems to be the norm. "You want to buy an expensive LV handbag? Okay, use your credit card!" Or, maybe a pair of Ferragamo shoes? Or a brand new Honda Accord? Or even designer's scarves such as Arianni's or Fareeda's? Buy, buy and buy some more.
Okay. I want to tell a true story here. And it is real, because, I've seen it first hand.
Location: In a jewellery shop
Time: Around 4.00 p.m. after payday.
Story: I was browsing the shop looking to buy a bracelet. Then I noticed a fellow shopper inside the shop. Then, I heard her asking the shop assistant the price of a gold locket. I didn't mean to be nosy, but since the shop is quite small, I could hear her talking to the shop assistant. I guessed she is a regular there.
Her: The locket that I bought before this is small. I like this one.
Shop assistant: This one is 25g, and it is RM3840.
Her: Could you give me discount?
After a while, my curiosity was killing me. I mean, if her locket was 25g, wouldn't it be too heavy for her neck? So I asked her a question whether the locket and the necklace would be far too heavy and wouldn't it feel uncomfotable?
And... Her answer was kinda like, okayyy...
She said: "I only wore it to work. When I got home, I would take it off."
Wow.
I am speechless. Her, wearing such a thick necklace with big locket, is such a dangerous thing to do.
However, what I deemed dangerous might be a good thing for most people. We only perceive things that we see the way we want to. If someone only wear very thin necklace or bracelet, or maybe, she doesn't wear jewellery, we would say that she couldn't afford to buy one. Or if someone refuses to indulge in Arianni scarves because she feels like it's ridiculous to buy such expensive items, then, she would be deemed as someone who doesn't dress with style.
I think, when talking about freedom and choices we make in life, it is very important to look at it through the Islamic way. I mean, different people have different priorities. Don't be quick to judge, just because certain people do things differently from you. I kinda think that it is very dangerous to flaunt your jewellery or riches, because nowadays there are too many bad people. While others see it as showing how much money they have in their bank account.
Will Smith nailed it when he said, and I quote:
"We spend money that we do not have, on things we do not need, to impress people who do not care.”
So, at the end of the day, it is our choice whether we want to have a high consumption lifestyles or a moderate one. Make the choice wisely.