A Reflection on Life Beyond the Lavish
By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
In a world constantly calling us to “live lavish,” it’s easy to lose ourselves in the chase. We’re surrounded by messages urging us to accumulate more money, more possessions, more status. And I fell into that same trap, believing that these things would bring me satisfaction, that the outer markers of success would quiet the restlessness inside. But, as I pursued that image of success, I left behind some of the most precious parts of my life. I lost friends who were true, people who saw me for who I was before the titles and the admiration from people who didn’t really know me. I lost the people who brought warmth and depth to my life, all because I was too busy chasing things that, in the end, felt hollow.
There’s a certain blindness that takes over when we’re so focused on the material. We look past the real wealth right in front of us, the kind that can’t be bought or displayed. When I look back on those I pushed aside in my pursuit of status, I can see how I valued things that were ultimately meaningless. I prioritized what made me look good, what set me apart. But none of that could replace the genuine connection I sacrificed for it. It’s painful to face that truth, to realize that, in trading people for possessions, I left my soul impoverished in the name of “riches.”
The lure of status can be overwhelming. It feeds our egos, whispering that we’ll find satisfaction just a little further up the ladder, with just one more success or purchase. But there’s a deep emptiness in that path, an emptiness that material things can’t fill. It’s like trying to fill a cup with water when the cup has no bottom it’s a hunger that never ends. Yet, there’s a quiet realization that sometimes surfaces amid the luxury and the accolades: real fulfillment, the kind that quiets the soul, doesn’t come from anything we can buy or own. It comes from a sense of peace that status can’t give, a joy that material wealth can’t sustain.
This endless pursuit of “more” often blinds us to the beauty and simplicity of what truly matters. There is a sweetness in friendship, a richness in love, and a depth in connection that no luxury item can ever replicate. We start to see that these are the treasures we were meant to seek. The Creator’s gifts are often found in the quiet moments, the kindness we give, and the love we receive. It’s not in the symbols of wealth but in the wealth of spirit that we truly find meaning. And these things are available to us without the price tags, without the competition.
The kind of abundance we were meant to experience goes far beyond material possession. It’s the abundance of heart and spirit. Living lavishly, in the truest sense, is about how we treat others, how we uplift those around us, how we bring joy to those who cross our path. It’s less about what we wear and more about the legacy we leave behind. The “status” worth striving for is not one of titles or possessions but one of compassion, empathy, and love. It’s a wealth that flows outward, lifting everyone it touches, bringing light to places that might otherwise remain dark.
And now, as I reflect on those I’ve lost along the way, I feel the weight of their absence in my life. I miss the laughter, the genuine moments, the sense of acceptance that I let slip away because I was too busy “succeeding.” Perhaps there’s still time to mend those bridges, to let people know that they mean more to me than any amount of money or recognition ever could. There is a humility in acknowledging our mistakes, but also a healing. We have the power to make amends, to live differently, to show through our actions that we value people above possessions, that we value connection above appearance.
Life has a way of teaching us, often through loss, that the things we chased after aren’t the things that truly fill us. When I look back, it’s not the things I bought or the status I achieved that matter most. It’s the times I shared a moment of kindness, the memories of laughter with those who cared, the love that was given freely without expectation. These are the real treasures, the ones we carry within us long after the shine of “success” fades.
In the end, life’s most valuable riches are not the ones we can buy but the ones we give and receive in spirit. True wealth is found in a heart at peace, in relationships that nurture and support us, in a life that serves a higher purpose. I used to think that “living lavish” meant accumulating and displaying my success. Now, I see that real lavish living is a spirit overflowing with love, compassion, and kindness. It’s a life aligned with the Creator’s purpose, a life that leaves behind a legacy of good.
So, for anyone out there who, like me, has felt the call of material success, let this reflection be a reminder. Life is too short to spend it chasing things that don’t bring lasting fulfillment. Let us live with a deeper sense of wealth a wealth that money can’t buy, that status can’t secure. Let us cherish the people in our lives, honor the love we share, and build a legacy of kindness and connection. Because in the end, it’s not the lavish things we’ve gathered that matter most, but the love and peace we leave behind in the hearts of those we’ve touched.
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