Humble, simple and helpful life of gain or loss

RECENTLY, a friend of mine who came to the USA like me with $8 in our hands in 1973, now a rich person doing business, told me, “Andrew, all the gains we made in this world, we are not taking with us when we die”. 

I corrected him by saying, “We did not gain anything; we experienced life on earth. We are born with nothing and leave this world with nothing. Every person has different experiences, some born poor and die poor, some born poor and die rich, some born with riches and die in sorrow and despair, some work hard, still die without any major gains, some become successful in business and become rich, some enter politics and become a leader and at the same time some do not reach anywhere, some become successful professionals, some do not get a chance for education. 

“All these are experiences in this world, some experience poverty, some experience wealth, some experience luxury, some suffer with sickness, some become mental patients, some become powerful political leaders, some become popular writers, actors and artists, some live in sorrow, some live in happiness  and everybody experiences life in this world differently.” 

My friend initially had a pause and then asked, “So life is only an experience, not real?” I replied. “Life is real, but it has a beginning and end that varies in time for each person. Life from babyhood to childhood to adulthood to old age is experiences by individuals and people around you. Life is unpredictable. Life has no gains or loss.”

Human beings are the intelligent creatures of the world, who could use their hands and legs to move around and do things, mouths to talk and communicate and brains to think and invent. It is estimated that human beings were present in the world for 450,000 years ago and were initially living as animals. I don’t want to waste my time talking about the development of Neanderthal beings into current humans, from 450,000 years to 40,000 years ago and then now.  

The history is long, and nobody has any clear answer and most of the religions were not more than 5,000 to 6,000 years ago when the theory of the creator who becomes the God was evolved. Even history 3,000 years ago is vague. Starting with the years AD, the history of human beings became clearer.

Here, the question we are trying to answer is whether you would live a simple and humble life able to help others and whether life can be a gain or a loss. Being humble means treating everybody the same, exactly like you want to be treated and having a positive attitude towards everybody. 

Humility is characterized by gratitude and freedom from arrogance and entitlement. A humble person is aware of their limitations and acknowledges mistakes. Living a simple life is about paring back so that you have space to breathe. You recognize that having more and doing more does not lead to happiness and therefore, it is about doing with less.A simple person is someone who leads an uncomplicated life and finds gratitude and contentment in the little things. Life is a process of creation, it is not about finding out who you are, but rather, determining who you want to be.

Leading a helpful life means living in a way that actively contributes to the well-being and betterment of others. Offering assistance, positive influence and support, ultimately making the world a better place to live for every human being. If you are inclined to assist or help others is any circumstances or situation, you are a helpful human being. A helpful person is kind, empathetic and compassionate to others.
A humble, simple and helpful life is defined. Now the question is gain or loss. Life is neither a gain nor a loss. Life is the period on earth between birth and death. 

Another friend of mine who had a successful life asked me, “I had a very successful life, I gained a lot in life, now I am old and ready to die.” 

I corrected him, “Dear Friend, you did not gain anything or lose anything; you experienced a good, luxurious life after you became a successful businessman. The purpose of life is neither gain nor loss; it is about being nice, simple, humble and helpful.” 

This is what human beings are missing. It is ok to reach big positions, build a successful business or become a popular leader, but life is only an experience; you are born with nothing and you die with nothing, there is no question of gain or loss. 
Therefore, lead a humble, simple and helpful life and experience the great time you are on this earth.