الأنباط -
By: Joud Freihat
Major: Applied English / Yarmouk University
How many times have we sat with ourselves and thought: Why do we exhaust ourselves with all these debts? Why do we take on financial commitments that last for years just to show others that we live at a good standard? Is other people's admiration really worth losing our peace of mind?
Today, we see young people buying expensive cars even when the monthly installments exceed their financial reach. Others start their married life saddled with debts and heavy expenses simply so their wedding matches everyone else's. They end up locked into payments and bank interest for years—all for the sake of a fleeting impression that people will forget moments later.
In the past, our grandparents used to say: "Live within your means." They understood that a person must adapt to what they actually possess. Today, comparison has become second nature, and many measure their personal success by material display. Social media has only worsened this, as we watch curated highlights and forget that polished online facades rarely reflect reality.
A person burdened with relentless debt spends every waking moment fixated on the next payment deadline. Over time, these obligations turn into chronic anxiety, all driven by the need to maintain an image for the outside world.
Those who genuinely love and value us will never judge us by the car we drive, the clothes we wear, or the money we spend. Meanwhile, anyone who cares only about superficial status will be nowhere to be found when real hardship strikes.
The solution begins by resetting our mindset and learning to live according to our own capacity, free from endless comparison. Aspiring to a better life or buying things you love is never wrong; the mistake lies in sacrificing your mental and financial stability just to achieve them.
How much longer will we pay for superficial appearances with our youth and our inner peace? Life is not a race against others. What truly matters is living comfortably and making choices that fit your personal circumstances—not chasing the approval of the crowd.
Are we actually living the life we want, or are we just performing a life designed for others to watch?
And what is it all for...?
حوارية في "شومان" بعنوان "تكريم الوعي.. في سبيل الارتقاء بالكتاب العربي"
