There's a story about a landowner who visited a tribal chief seeking land. The chief said, "Walk west from here and make a mark. If you return before sunset, all the land between here and that mark is yours."
After sunset, the landowner hadn't returned. He'd wandered too far and collapsed from exhaustion.
I believe that landowner never forgot he must return before sunset. I also believe he must have paused more than once, ready to turn back. But then he'd think: Just a few more steps, and I'll gain more land. Desire gradually pulled him further and further away.
A female colleague always buys the trendiest phones. But within months, newer models hit the market. She'd buy the latest one, selling her old phones cheaply at secondhand markets. Her pursuit of fashion left her hooked, and she went through countless phones over the years. Once she sighed, "Constantly upgrading has cost me over ten thousand yuan, yet the phone I use now isn't even the newest model."
A friend bought a new apartment before his wedding. It wasn't large—just over 80 square meters—and the simple renovation cost little. He said that for his income, this size and level of decoration were reasonable. If he'd bought a trendy 100+ square meter home with luxurious finishes, he'd have had to live frugally and pay off the mortgage for years, losing his sense of ease.He expressed deep satisfaction with his new home, saying he doesn't envy others with larger or more beautifully decorated houses, nor does he covet the luxurious villas of the wealthy—for such envy would rob him of lifelong happiness.
My friend is truly wise—he knows how to say "no" to desire. The landlord in the story couldn't resist temptation and ultimately became someone who couldn't turn back. How many people in life are lured by desire, straying farther and farther, only to find happiness slipping away?