My uncle has worked hard since his first job soon after graduating from university at 21. His goal was to work hard and retire early but everyday when he wakes up, he finds more work that needs his attention and his retirement dream seems a mirage. He has been asking himself what the end game is, money or happiness.

At the beginning, money was very important. He was raised from a poor family by a widowed mum and he grew up with a passionate hatred for poverty. His prayer was that one day he would escape it and by the grace of God he did.

Every poor child’s dream is to leave poverty behind. This comes with focus and hard work. There is also another reason why my uncle has continued to work hard.

Seeing his wealthy father die and leave him dirt poor made him aware that freeing yourself from poverty does not mean it cannot catch up with you again. I have also seen people making money, lead careless lives or lose focus and end up in paupers.

I know of a widow who was very poor but retained her dignity, and despite being surrounded by wealthy family members, she would not beg or borrow from them. Today, I have learnt the values of hard work and dignity from her.

I have learnt that it is possible to depend on myself. There are certain traits her children carry from childhood experience of poverty. They squeeze the last drop of everything- tooth paste, lotion, ….

When you visit them at home, you will clean the last morsel on your plate because the thought of wasting precious food is unbearable. Their mother finds it easy to share with the less fortunate.

When you establish a need, she doesn’t wait to be asked as she knows how difficult it is to ask. Although money is not everything, we all need to work hard to get some.

It is hard not to have a certain level of income. We know money can buy loads of things, education, good medical care, a nice house, good clothes, a good car, and holidays.

There is a saying that says ‘money talks’ but I will add, if it talks, it can also lie. My experience is that money can provide material satisfaction which can quickly become an endless loop of wanting more and more.

It gives you an increasing urge to have more but it can’t buy you love or happiness. And now, back to my question. What is the end game of all our hard work?

I believe success is in the hands of the beholder. Our definition of success is different depending on who we are, what is important to us, and what we want out of our lives.

While I would need money to do many things, I would never define my success in terms of money. For me, success is having the time to do what I want to do, being able to give my children everything that enables them to pursue their own dreams, surrounding myself with good and solid relationships and having a happy family.

Deep down inside, I work hard because I simply want to be happy. Happy with myself, where I am in life, my studies, my achievements, my friends. To me, attaining and maintaining a certain level of happiness is the best definition of happiness.

God willing, my hard work will give me the happiness I want and I will have no excuse of keeping in the unending race. I know there are many who agree with me.

Contact: fimwel@outgun.com