In life, the concept of work takes on different meanings depending on one’s perspective. For some, work is a necessity, a means to an end. For others, it is an expression of joy and fulfillment. This story of an old man and a merchant highlights how the perception of work can affect one’s satisfaction and outlook on life.

In a small village, there was an old man leisurely sitting under a large tree. He enjoyed the shade while weaving straw hats, arranging the completed ones neatly in front of him for passing tourists to choose from. Many visitors stopped to admire his craftsmanship.

A clever merchant noticed the beautifully woven straw hats and quickly began calculating in his mind. He thought to himself, "If I take these hats to America, I could easily make ten times the profit." Eager to make a deal, he approached the old man and asked, "My friend, how much do you charge for each hat?"

"Ten dollars per hat," the old man replied with a gentle smile, continuing his weaving. His relaxed demeanor made it seem as if he wasn’t working at all but rather enjoying the process.

The merchant then proposed, "I'd like to order 10,000 hats from you. How much of a discount can you give me for such a large order?"

Expecting the old man to be thrilled, the merchant was shocked when the old man frowned and responded, "In that case, the price will be twenty dollars per hat."

"Why?" the merchant shouted in disbelief.

The old man calmly explained his reasoning: "Sitting under this tree, weaving a few hats without any pressure is an enjoyable activity for me. However, if I had to weave 10,000 identical hats, I’d be forced to work day and night. It wouldn’t just exhaust me physically, but it would also become a mental burden. Shouldn’t you pay me more for that kind of work?"

Insight
As the old man wisely pointed out, when work ceases to be a source of enjoyment and becomes a repetitive, monotonous task, it can quickly lead to exhaustion and dissatisfaction. While we may often need to work for specific goals or financial gain, it’s important to reflect on why we work. Those who genuinely love what they do are the ones who find true happiness in their labor.