Page 174 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

50. Happiness Redefined at Hong

Kong

I was a teetotaler and a strict vegetarian. I would not frequent any

bars in night life. I had my family and kids with me in Hong Kong
and never felt bored or alone to visit such places. Sometimes my
colleagues would ask me jokingly, "Why have you come to Hong
Kong when you don't know how to enjoy life?" You have spoiled chances
of someone else who could have enjoyed the life here."

I would just smile and tell them, "Each one of us has different ideas and
ways to enjoy life. My idea of enjoyment has never been so shallow that
not consuming non-vegetarian food or not consuming alcohol would
diminish my joy and zest for life in any way!"

I had no idea whether my colleagues and friends liked my answer but I
felt very happy and relaxed with my own assertion of life and its values.
I never criticized any one for their drinking or eating habits. I respected
their individual choices and used to join them having with them whatever
I liked, without showing any abhorrence for what they consumed. This
made me quite acceptable in the group. They always invited me
whenever there was any party or get together among them. I used to
socialize by sipping juice and taking vegetarian food items while joining
the conversations.

I was very fortunate that neither colleagues nor bosses or clients in India,
Hong Kong or Singapore ever forced me to have what I did not want to
have. Moreover, neither this affected my personal relationship with them
nor it affected my performance reports on work.

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