Should We Work Hard or Enjoy Life? It's Time to Rethink

I've been reflecting deeply on my recent life.

I was an ambitious person striving for success.

Since middle school, I've studied hard, sometimes up to 12 hours a day. I didn't care whether it was effective or not.

I was deeply inspired by motivational and self-help gurus who advocated, "Don't squander time; put in the effort.

I hoped that someday my efforts would pay off.

But is it really worth it?

I must say, I'm satisfied with what I've achieved.

Initially, I wasn't very smart, so I enrolled in one of the worst middle schools in the city.

It had a terrible reputation because most students misbehaved.

The girls often got pregnant before marriage, and the boys smoked and drank.

I don't know if these are common in your country, but in mine, they are illegal.

Even my uncle talked behind my back, urging his kids to study harder so they wouldn't end up in a school like mine.

It was disheartening.

That's why I studied so hard—to prove I was worthy.

As I studied more, things improved.

In my final year of middle school, I ranked second out of 270 students. That was the moment I went a bit crazy.

I studied every day, successfully got into a prestigious university, and achieved meaningful accomplishments.

But something was off; it felt a bit lonely.

I had very little time to have fun with friends and often didn't enjoy going out.

I thought if I wasted time, I would never succeed.

But after graduating from college, I realized I was wrong.

The pride in my achievements has faded. The only thing I miss is the time spent with my small group of friends, even if it was rare.

Now that we've chosen different life paths, enjoying time with them again won't be possible.

Enjoy Life a Bit More

I know if I hadn't studied hard back then, I wouldn't have become a better person. But if I neglect other parts of my life, it wouldn't be called living.

I've read Steve Jobs' dying words, which say almost the same thing:

"I have achieved a lot in the business world. Others see my life as successful.

But, apart from work, I don't get much joy. In the end, being rich is a part of life that I've become used to.

Now, lying on my sickbed and recalling my whole life, I realize that the fame and wealth I took so much pride in have become pale and meaningless as death approaches.

In the dark, I see green lights from life-saving machines and hear their hum. I can feel death coming closer...

Now I know, when we have enough money for life, we should focus on other things, not just money.

It should be something more important:

Maybe relationships, maybe art, maybe a dream from our youthful days.

Constantly chasing money will only distort someone like me.

Steve had some regrets about his life, including chasing greatness, and I don't want to experience that.

Life should be beautiful, and enjoying it should be our best option.

It's not that I want to waste time, but I need to connect with people while chasing my dreams.

Now, my family is the only close group I have. Spending some time sitting and talking with my parents would be better.

Life is beyond our control. Thinking that after achieving success we can just work hard and then enjoy life is wrong.

What if we die tomorrow?

What if we face health problems?

What if our loved ones are gone?

It would be very sad if we spent our time enduring pain without knowing the blessings of life, and then died.