The Boastful Encounter
Fifteen years ago, I met a man who seemed to embody the very essence of wealth and arrogance. His name was James, and he walked into my office like a peacock, feathers on full display. Dressed in a tailored black Italian suit, he exuded an air of superiority that was almost palpable. A 100 grams gold chain glinted around his neck, and his Rolex watch caught the light with every exaggerated gesture. He lit a Havana cigar with a flourishing, puffing out clouds of smoke as he regaled me with tales of his extravagant lifestyle. “I just bought a $5 million flat in Long Island,” he boasted, leaning back in his chair as if the world revolved around him. “And don’t get me started on my new Ferrari! Last year, I sent a million dollar check to the Salvation Army, but honestly, I hate this country.” His words dripped with disdain and pretentiousness, and I found myself growing weary within half an hour. His presence was an assault on my senses. He brought his own water bottle and coffee mug, refusing to touch anything from my office. After shaking hands, he would pull out a bottle of disinfectant from his pocket, rubbing it obsessively over his palms as if my office were a den of germs. Each time I attempted to lighten the mood with humor, he responded with a grimace that made me feel small. Then, as if sent from above, a phone call interrupted our conversation. His “gold-plated” mobile rang with an obnoxious tone, and he hurriedly left my office. I looked up at the ceiling and whispered a silent prayer of gratitude.
A Long Silence
Years passed, and though we exchanged greetings through automated messages on Eid and Independence Day, I forgot much about him. Life has a way of dulling memories; fifteen years is enough time to let even the most vivid impressions fade. Yet every time I saw someone flaunting wealth—a Rolex watch glinting in the sun or someone meticulously disinfecting their hands—I would think of James and chuckle at the absurdity of it all.
The Unexpected Reunion
Then came the day that changed everything. After fifteen long years, I found myself face-to-face with James once more. But this time, he was unrecognizable. Gone were the designer suits and ostentatious displays of wealth. Instead, he wore simple jeans and a loose sweater beneath an unassuming long coat. A woolen cap sat atop his head, and instead of arrogance, there was warmth radiating from him. He smiled easily now, telling jokes that made me laugh heartily—something I never thought possible. He arrived in an ordinary 1800cc car and drank the cheap tea from my office without complaint. What shocked me most was how he shook hands with everyone—my office boy included—asking about their well-being as if they were old friends. For two hours, we spoke. Not once did he gossip or boast about his past life of luxury. When I cautiously asked about his company’s performance, expecting another grand tale of success, I was taken aback by his response: “The company’s growth is accelerating rapidly. We expect it to be among the top 1,000 companies in the U.S. by next year.”
The Revelation
As we talked, the call to prayer echoed through my office. James stood up without hesitation, spread a prayer mat on the floor, and offered his prayers with sincerity that left me in awe. When he returned to our conversation, he shared something that sent shivers down my spine. “Brother,” he began softly, “this transformation is the result of ten days that changed everything for me.” Intrigued, I leaned in closer as he recounted his story. It began on an ordinary day when he felt an unsettling pain while running on the treadmill. A doctor’s visit led to tests that revealed pancreatic cancer—a diagnosis that shattered his world into pieces. Overwhelmed by despair while sitting alone in a hospital garden, he recognized how fleeting life could be. In a moment of reckoning, he broke free from his old self—both literally and metaphorically—destroying his mobile phone and withdrawing $50,000 from the bank before fleeing to Fiji Island. “I thought I had only two months left,” he said wistfully. “I wanted to live fully during that time.”
Embracing Life
In Fiji’s wilderness, James discovered life anew: camping under starlit skies by tranquil lakesides; dancing joyously with strangers; savoring street food; watching sunrises paint the sky in colors he’d never truly seen before. For ten days, he immersed himself in nature’s beauty— the sound of waterfalls became music; each wave crashing against the shore felt like an embrace. On the tenth day, James called home only to learn that his cancer diagnosis had been a mistake—the hospital had sent samples to three different labs; only one had returned positive results. The other two were normal. “I believe that report was a wake-up call from God,” James said earnestly. “It taught me to live each moment as if it’s my last.”
A New Dawn
As he finished recounting his journey from boastful arrogance to humble gratitude, I felt tears prick at my eyes—not out of sadness but sheer admiration for this man who had truly learned what it meant to live. “I understand now,” James concluded with a smile that lit up his entire face. “Unless you embrace life fully—every taste, every sound—you can never truly experience its richness.” In that moment, I realized how transformative life can be when faced with mortality— a lesson learned not through loss but through awakening. As we parted ways that day, I couldn’t help but smile at the irony: James had become everything he once despised—a man who valued connection over wealth and laughter over arrogance—a true embodiment of life itself. He further told that he likes to read to get inspired. More often than not he visits his favorite websites of inspirational quotations. He recommended that everyone should listen to the wise men and get not only inspired but wise as well.
