The Handicap of Luxury

I am writing again after working over the Chinese New Year holidays beginning with New Year's Eve on Monday. I'm finally on leave today and tomorrow. I caught up on my sleep and settled all my outstanding credit card bills. I'm ready to tackle a fresh new month. 

The year doesn't really begin in this part of the world until the Chinese Lunar New Year is done. Usually falling on the end of January or February time-frame, the end of Christmas is the beginning of the CNY shopping season. When all the deafening sound of firecrackers and the pounding drums of the Lion dance have died down, only then can one really get down to business.

However my start to the year has been a good one in terms of reading. Without realizing it, I finished reading 3 books. Now I have the good problem of picking my next read. Maybe this year, I will give special preference to books by local writers, usually biographies or commentaries on local politics. They have always proven to be exciting reads due to their relevance to me. Which is why, I have covered 3 sizable books within a month.

When it comes to books and pens, I live in absolute abundance. These are the only 2 'luxuries' that I unashamedly allow myself to indulge in. I have a collection of fountain pens, which include Mont Blanc, Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco, Pilot, Parker and Conklin and a selection of multi-coloured inks to go with. 

Recently on a trip back to my hometown, I spotted a beautiful Parker Duofold in the showcase of the local jewellery shop. It has probably sat there for more than 2 decades, the shop proprietor having resigned to keeping it as a prop, as they sell mostly watches and gold to the local clientele. But it was love at first sight for me: I could not resist holding the beautiful marble green Parker Duofold in my hand and dreamt of writing in my journal with it. After some half-hearted haggling, I decided to swipe my card to make that impulse purchase, to the delight of the shop owner.

Expensive fountain pens are a luxury. The ten ringgit one can perform as well as the high-end ones. The Parker Duofold starts with 4 figures, and that's because it has an 18K gold nib, which does not necessarily improve writing experience a thousand-fold. 

For someone who does not like expensive things, collecting fountain pens is a hobby which I 'approve' of, just to ground myself as a normal human being. And this is where it will stop, because I've always considered luxury a handicap.

Once you are used to staying in 5-star hotels, it's difficult to downgrade yourself to cheaper ones. The same goes to other luxuries. Once you've tasted it, it's difficult to let go, and you are forever beholden to that need. That is why I call it a handicap. It's the reason why I do not sleep with the air-condition on. I grew up without one and I could sleep perfectly well. I can sleep anywhere, even if it is hot and stuffy. That is a 'skill' that I want to preserve.

I have nothing against spending on the good things in life if one could afford it. But do not make it another necessary condition for happiness. Remember, no matter how much you have, there's always more to acquire. Were you less happy when you had less? Certainly not. Why create more necessary conditions for happiness? Wealth is relative. There's always someone richer than you. No matter how rich you are, you are still mediocre in the eyes of someone above you.

During Chinese New Year, we wish each other good fortune, wealth and prosperity for the coming year. Define prosperity your own way. It's not necessarily material wealth that we should consider. Being able to work efficiently and thus allowing one to enjoy more leisure is a good form of acquired prosperity.

So I wish everyone a wealth of wisdom in the year of the Tiger. Pick and choose your luxuries and may those that you indulge in do not end up handicapping you in life.