The Rich Man’s Fast and the Poor Man’s Hunger
Money is just an illusion. We think people who have money are happy and satisfied. They enjoy life and the pleasures of being rich.
That is not true!
If you are destined to be deprived of any pleasure in life, you will, no matter how rich or poor you are. Take for example, the poor may crave for a wholesome meal and not be able to afford it. The rich may have a feast laid out in front of them but not able to eat it because of allergies or digestive problems. Both crave and live in deprivation. Just the causes of deprivation are different but the end result is the same.
A man with limited means craves for sweets and a rich, diabetic man craves for sweets too.
The poor cannot sleep peacefully because it is hot and there are mosquitoes. The rich can’t either because there is stress and insomnia. Both are desperate for a good restful sleep but both are sleepless.
A poor man cannot get good education for his child because he cannot afford it. A rich man’s child may not study well in the best of schools and resources at home. Both men wish their children could get good education.
Buying expensive clothes is beyond the means of a poor family but expensive clothes and accessories don’t make an out-of-shape person look good.
Poor struggle to earn enough to provide for their families and see them happy. The rich too don’t often see their families happy for various reasons.
The poor have no respect in the society, the rich often aren’t respected too. They are either feared or used. Both end up being miserable.
Someone who is deprived, craves for materialistic possessions while someone who posses them searches for inner peace and calm.
Poor man travels on foot while rich in a luxurious jet, both are racing against time to meet deadlines.
The poor and the rich, both eat a humble meal before going to bed everyday, one due to poverty and the other due to health, but suffer similar predicaments.
Poor man faces death due to lack of adequate healthcare and a rich man dies of an incurable disease. In the end both meet their maker after having lived similar lives, full of deprivation.
No one goes to a poor man’s funeral, not to a rich man’s either. A rich man’s funeral only sees scavengers!
Vineet Gupta is the Founder and Managing Editor of PuneNow, where he oversees local news delivery and explores mindful living, parenting, and personal growth. An alumnus of the University of Wales, Vineet has travelled extensively and worked across hospitality, finance, and academia. Now based in Pune, his diverse global background informs his hyper-local perspective, helping the community find meaning, balance, and connection in everyday life.
