This is my entry for the writing contest organized by @hindwhale in the Hindwhale Community. I invite @alexsbdro, @cmdd, and @lenifitria to join in writing.

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Are We All Sacrificing Peace to Make Money?

Are We All Sacrificing Peace to Make Money? Are we? I am having some difficulty understanding this question, namely:

• Is this a fact-checking (confirmation) question or an opinion-seeking question?
• Does "peace" refer to inner peace on a narrow scale or to peace in a broader sense, such as the absence of conflict (quarrels, wars)?

Alright. I will try my best to answer and summarize all aspects of the question.

If it is a fact-checking question, then I believe it is true that some of us tend to sacrifice peace to make money. People are willing to do things that disrupt their comfort because of mounting job demands and looming deadlines. They fulfill their obligations in order to earn money to fulfil their needs. There is too little time and too many bills to pay.

But it's not just those with limited money. Those who have more than enough money sometimes act the same way, sacrificing many things, including their relationships with close ones.

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On a larger scale, violence has accompanied almost all of human history. Humans harm other humans to seize money, food, women, land, and so on. This happens not only individually but also in groups.

But of course, the question is also not accurate, “are we all…?” Of course NOT ALL OF US.

That is my opinion if the question was intended as a fact-checker. But if the question is about my opinion on how best to live when faced with these two things to choose one and sacrifice another, peace or money, then I would answer as follows:

Personally, I believe we can live without money. Money is a tool created to facilitate the exchange of goods. Simply put, that's what it is. Can people not get the goods they want without money? In many cases, no, because people today have been conditioned to submit to the power of money. From childhood, they are taught that only with money can they get candy, ice cream, and so on.

I, once again, believe that we can live without money. We might face various unimaginable challenges (compared to the way we live our lives today) if, for example, money was never created. But humans would surely survive in their own way; they would continue to live even if money had never been invented, though many aspects of life would be very different from the way we know it today.

But without peace? Perhaps we wouldn't die, but life would certainly not be comfortable. Forget violent conflicts like wars; even having a problem with a neighbor can make us feel uneasy.

I have experienced wartime. Everything was difficult then. Access to everything became limited. The atmosphere was always tense. We couldn't leave the house as we pleased. And even if we left the house for something important, we would surely ask ourselves, "Will we return home in the same condition as when we left?" or even "Will we ever return home?" Even almost all the time, we are anxious, wondering if death will knock on our door.

A simpler example: in a kidnapping incident accompanied by death threats, would the family or close ones of the victim choose to hold onto their money tightly? Or would they do whatever it takes and sacrifice all the money they have to get their loved one back, for the sake of their peace of mind and inner tranquility?

So, for me, money is something I would sacrifice when I have to choose between it and peace. It’s not a difficult choice.

Which Is Wiser to Spend and Earn or to Spend After Earning and Saving?

People live their lives in their own ways, which can sometimes be quite unique compared to others, including how they handle money.

But of course, wasting money is not a good thing if we understand that circumstances can change at any time. And wasting money can only be done if the money is available. You cannot spend and waste what you do not have, or can you? For those who have a good vision for the future and a solid plan, they will use money to meet needs, not to satisfy desires. However, everyone's needs are different from others. So, the measure of "meeting needs" is certainly different in different cases.

And a wise person will certainly save some from what they earn to face difficult times that may come at any moment, if they have the opportunity to do so. Imagine those whose daily income is smaller than the minimum living expenses they need to meet; they might sacrifice nutrition to fulfil the needs of their children's education or sacrifice their children's education so they can eat more.

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So this is something complex, not as simple as being wise or not. There is always a reason why people do this or that.

My notes: People with abundant money can spend it freely. For people with sufficient income, it is good for them to save as a preparaition for difficult times that may arise. People with little money need help from the first two gruops.

Apart From Money, What Brings You Peace and Happiness?

In the way of life we know today, money plays an important role in enabling us to meet all the demands of life, from education, nutrition, health, and even preparation for death. Living a prosperous life not only means creating opportunities to obtain a good quality of life but also elevating one's status in society, as long as they are willing to contribute to the needs of their community with their abundance. People who do this will be liked by society, and thus receive a certain additional portion of inner peace. Such a person can be said to “have bought inner peace." So, inner peace can be bought.

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In addition to giving to those in need, for me, what is more important than money and brings peace and happiness is the ability to maintain good relationships with close people and relatives. I believe that love and affection from family go hand in hand with God's grace. The good prayers from relatives and acquaintances also have their own effect on our lives, both directly and indirectly, mentally and spiritually.

Seeing parents, brothers, sisters, children, and friends happy will also make us happy.

So, in my opinion,

Putting a smile on someone else's face is the highest and most important happiness to achieve.

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