Do you know a guy who always rushes to the front of the queue whenever Nike or Adidas releases new shoes? Whether it’s a hoodie, a cap, or even just a plain top, he’s always the first to grab everything, as if his family has endless money to spend. It’s like he’s desperate to turn all his cash into products to wear on his body. He tries so hard to mix and match his outfits, convincing himself that he’s a top-tier fashion icon. But in reality, his style is so tacky. People can see that his outfits lack elegance and sophistication—he’s totally a joker.
But there’s another side to him that people don’t often see. A year ago, I heard from a friend that this same guy once saved someone’s life. The person he saved was a middle-aged woman.
One day, while he was jogging in the park, he noticed a woman walking toward the river. Slowly, her body began sinking into the water—until only the top of her head could be seen. Shocked and frightened, the guy rushed to the riverbank and pulled her out. Without hesitating, he performed CPR for about 20 seconds. Miraculously, the woman coughed up water and came back to life.
Later that day, the guy went home and proudly told his family, ‘I just saved a woman’s life today!’ But his 19-year-old sister started laughing. Confused, the guy asked her, ‘Why are you laughing, sis?’ His sister replied, ‘That woman wasn’t drowning by accident. She was trying to end her life. Do you think she’ll thank you? She worked so hard to get the courage to end everything, but you stopped her. Maybe she’ll feel even worse now.
When he heard his sister’s comment, it completely conflicted with everything he believed in. This guy, who always tried to appear fancy but ended up looking tacky, had never thought about life this deeply before. He had money in the bank, a wardrobe full of trendy clothes, and a lifestyle that revolved around appearances. But this incident shook him.
He started questioning himself: ‘Did I really do something good, or was I just being naive? Was my action helpful or harmful?’ On one hand, some people might praise him for saving a life—‘a true hero,’ they’d say. But on the other hand, his sister’s blunt opinion pierced through him: ‘You’re just a fool who doesn’t understand the deeper consequences of your actions.’
That night, these conflicting thoughts kept running through his head. He was so troubled that he skipped supper entirely—a rare moment for someone who never missed a meal. But by the next day, his internal struggle seemed to fade. He went back to McDonald’s for a quick burger, swung by Nike to check out the latest sneakers, and returned to his usual routine. In the end, the guy stayed the same. He was still the same tacky, flashy guy, living on the surface of life, and not thinking too deeply after all.
2025.01.24 5:06pm