Contrast Is What Makes Life Interesting

Within a matter of 24 hours, my wife and I have gone from relative luxury (a 6 day stay at the Hyatt Regency in Hong Kong) to relative poverty (staying in her hometown in the very rural Chinese countryside). The Hyatt had a hypermodern, 24 hour gym; her parental home literally has a hole in the earth for a toilet (see below picture).

There are also large, flying insects on this toilet. I’m discovering one behind me, right at this moment.

Both these experiences were enjoyable in their own way. The one at the Hyatt for its convenience and being able to truly relax, staying at her hometown for the adventure, the romance, and the purity. Yet what made both these experiences most enjoyable was their contrast.

I could appreciate our stay at the Hyatt even more because of previous experiences in life when things were the opposite of high luxury. But I could also enjoy the stay at her hometown more because I realized how little I actually need, and how much fun you have when everything is not perfectly smooth and arranged and taken care of.

This leads to a fundamental issue I see happening to many people: they get used to luxury and take it for granted. Worse, many people start to feel entitled about their golden cage and believe they can’t live without it. This is just nonsense and a typical example of “spoiled-kid-syndrome.” People become impossible to bear as they get irritated and upset over even the smallest of setbacks and inconveniences. They have forgotten the Buddhist wisdom that we want a lot but need very little to be happy.

But worst of all is that you end up missing out on so much fun. Sure, in the moment itself it’s not convenient to skip showers for a few days, or to not have a toilet or sink. But you’ll create nice memories, encounter adventures, and, at a minimum, learn to appreciate those things much more when you’re back in the comfort of your own home.

Contrast is what makes life interesting, being stuck in constant luxury makes life dull and flat.

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