Fewer pants in the wardrobe, yet my heart has never been fuller.
As I approach my high school’s 40th reunion, this “pants paradox” is the cornerstone of my life’s reflection. It’s bittersweet to observe many of my classmates who have amassed wealth and live in comfort. Meanwhile, I have taken a markedly different path — one that has not padded my bank account but has enriched my spirit immeasurably.
Fresh out of high school, I opted for the rigour of the army, which was just the beginning of a life dedicated to the pursuit of standing up for something bigger than just me. From serving as a Federal Agent to combating slavery and narcotics, my career has been a relentless quest against global injustices. Over the last 22 years specifically, my efforts have centred on delivering justice for those silenced by oppression — rescuing people around the globe from the grips of slavery, training police and security personnel in rescues to multiply that effort, and refining laws and procedures to enforce the rights of those voiceless.
It’s an understatement to say that this journey has been financially unrewarding. There were times when I lived on the brink of homelessness, when the economic and emotional strain actually was unbearable. Yet, when I look back, I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride and fulfilment that no pay check could ever provide. While almost no slavery case ends well, despite the Hollywood versions of it, the lives touched and the systems changed are my treasures.
This path has taught me the profound beauty of sacrifice and the true value of a life dedicated to service. The simplicity of my lifestyle — signified by having only 3 pairs of pants, at least 5 times fewer than when I walked out the school gates — is a stark contrast to the complexity and depth of the experiences I’ve lived through. Each threadbare seam, hole-y jeans, and faded fabric holds stories of courage, pain, triumph, and hope. And those who have rallied to keep me from living on the street hold a dear place in my heart and in these reflections.
As I join my classmates in reminiscence, and I do not diminish their great accomplishments, I feel genuinely happy for them finding reward in less self-destructive ways, I am not envious of material successes. I am rich in ways that difficult to quantify, impossible to buy, but easy to feel. My career might have impoverished me materially and drained me mentally, but it has been a wellspring of spiritual wealth.
Herein the message: to those who stand at crossroads in their careers or lives, wondering whether to choose the path of comfort or the call of duty — know that the latter, though fraught with challenges, is incredibly rewarding. Each day, I rise with the conviction that I wouldn’t want to live in any other way than on this precipice. Life’s real richness can be found not in what we accumulate but in what we contribute. Look for what is really worth finding: it worth everything.
