Work and Money
Is wanting to work unnecessary when money is not a concern?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Not necessarily. Work may provide income, but it can also offer something you willingly commit to as you pursue your own life. Even when someone provides for your daily needs, you can still go out, connect with the wider world, and do what you want to do.
I know a woman whose family was financially comfortable and whose husband could provide for her. However, after a long time at home and having afternoon tea with friends, she felt that life seemed to contain little else. The couple’s once-lively interactions had diminished too. She later wanted to work to pursue her own life, not because the household lacked money.
After beginning work, she had more contact with the outside world and paid more attention to her clothing and appearance. She told me her husband began asking how work had gone when he came home. They started chatting again and their relationship improved. This was a change in that period of her life. It also shows that having something you willingly invest yourself in can create opportunities for life to change.