We are not born merely to survive. We are not here just to pay bills, scroll feeds, or chase hollow dreams
In Sindh, in Pakistan, and across the world, we must rise from survival and step into living. It begins with a shift in mindset and extends into how we educate, govern, and love
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
The Illusion of a Life Well-Lived
In a world dominated by glittering cities, social media snapshots, and the tireless race to acquire more, we have come to confuse the act of living with the performance of living. We see images of opulent homes, exotic holidays, designer clothes, and business-class boarding passes, and instinctively label them as signs of a fulfilling life. Yet, behind many of those images lies emptiness, anxiety, and spiritual starvation. In contrast, we ignore the barefoot child who laughs uncontrollably while playing with a wheel in a dusty street, or the elderly woman who smiles peacefully while preparing tea on a wood stove in a rural village of Sindh.
Are these people just surviving, or are they, in fact, truly living? The answer demands that we dismantle our current definitions and reconstruct a more human, more soul-nourishing understanding of life.
What Does It Mean to Truly Live?
To truly live is to wake up with purpose, to find joy in moments big and small, to be present with those you love, and to possess the freedom to shape your own life. It is about emotional and spiritual engagement with the world, not just physical existence. It is about fulfillment, not routine. Living is when you have time to dream and the mental space to reflect. It’s when your heart beats not just to survive the next bill or hurdle, but to connect, create, and grow.
In developed countries, such as Sweden or the Netherlands, even a schoolteacher or a janitor can have a balanced life — work a decent job, take vacations, afford healthcare, and pursue hobbies. These societies are built not just to enable survival, but to promote a flourishing life. Public transport works. Education is accessible. Work-life balance is prioritized. A sense of safety exists. The system respects human dignity.
Case Study 1: Sweden – A Society Built for Living
Take the example of Anna, a librarian in Stockholm. She works 35 hours a week, gets five weeks of paid vacation annually, and spends her weekends hiking with her children or painting. Healthcare is free. She doesn’t own a luxury car, but she cycles to work along scenic, safe roads. She feels valued by society, has time for family, and rarely feels overwhelmed. Anna may not be rich by global standards, but she is deeply alive.
But what about here in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh? Even educated professionals often find themselves caught in a cycle of stress, inflation, political instability, and lack of opportunity. The dream to live becomes a luxury only a few can afford. Most are focused on how to make it through the month. A majority are not choosing their paths; they are reacting to circumstances.
Who Is Truly Living—The Wealthy or the Contented?
We often associate luxury with living. But is that accurate? Consider the rich industrialist in Karachi who has multiple homes, foreign passports, and endless bank balances. He dines at the finest restaurants but often eats alone. His eyes are tired from constant scheming, and his trust has been eroded by betrayals and fake friendships. His children are disconnected, his health is poor from overwork or indulgence, and sleep is a stranger to him.
Compare that to a schoolteacher in a village outside Sukkur. He earns little, but his students adore him. He gardens in the evening, prays at dusk, and watches the stars in silence. His life is humble, but his heart is at peace. He may not have what the world calls “success,” but he lives in gratitude, with dignity and purpose.
Case Study 2: Bhutan – Gross National Happiness Over GDP
Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom, rejects GDP as its only measure of progress. Instead, it measures Gross National Happiness (GNH), which emphasizes spiritual wellbeing, community vitality, and ecological balance. Tashi, a farmer in Paro Valley, wakes up to prayer chants, tends his organic fields, and returns home to a modest house with extended family. Despite not owning a car or earning in dollars, his life is rooted in tradition, connection, and joy.
So who is richer in the truest sense?
Living is not defined by air-conditioned rooms or brand-name shoes. It is defined by mental peace, meaningful relationships, inner contentment, and freedom of time and thought. A rich man living in fear and disconnection may be surviving. A poor man who smiles from the soul may be living fully.
What Does It Mean to Survive?
Survival is when the body goes through the motions of life, but the heart is tired and the mind is preoccupied with burdens. Survival is not just about poverty; it is about pressure, stagnation, and mental captivity. A woman managing her house and children in Hyderabad on a limited income, worried about rising utility bills, her child’s school fees, and her own health, is surviving. She may not even have the time or energy to ask herself what she wants from life. A university graduate driving a Careem in Karachi while sending resumes every night is surviving, not living.
Case Study 3: Japan – The Tragedy of Overwork
In Tokyo, Japan, the phenomenon of “karoshi” — death by overwork — has become disturbingly common. Kenji, a 45-year-old corporate worker, died from a heart attack at his desk after months of 14-hour workdays. He earned a high salary, wore the finest suits, and lived in a high-rise apartment, yet never saw his children awake. His life was spent chasing productivity metrics, not meaning.
Survival mode robs us of our humanity. It narrows our vision to just the next deadline, the next meal, or the next transaction. It turns us into machines responding to life, not authors creating it.
What Are the Parameters of a Life Well-Lived?
If money is not the ultimate measure, what is? What makes a life worth celebrating?
- Peace of Mind: A silent room with a calm heart is more valuable than a noisy world with internal chaos.
- Time for Loved Ones: Life is fleeting. Moments with parents, children, and friends are the essence of living.
- Freedom to Choose: The ability to pursue dreams, change direction, and shape your story.
- Purpose: Whether through work, art, prayer, or service — feeling useful, needed, and connected.
- Gratitude: Those who appreciate small joys are rarely poor in spirit.
By these standards, many wealthy people are impoverished. And many who have little are living in abundance.
How Does Society Contribute to Survival or Living?
The difference between surviving and living is not just personal — it is political, structural, and cultural. In developed countries, governments create ecosystems where living is supported. A child born in Finland has access to free education, healthcare, and a dignified life, regardless of their family’s income. The system carries people forward.
In Pakistan — and especially in rural Sindh — the system often does the opposite. Corruption, nepotism, poor infrastructure, and broken institutions mean that even the most talented individuals struggle to rise. Students in government schools sit under broken fans. Doctors are underpaid. Artists are ignored. Innovators are choked by bureaucracy.
Our culture also plays a role. We pressure youth to follow conventional paths: become a doctor, get married early, buy property. We rarely ask: What makes you feel alive? Emotional intelligence, creativity, mental health, and personal freedom are often sidelined. The result? A generation that knows how to earn but not how to live.
Case Study 4: Karachi – Escaping the Trap
Faraz, a brilliant 24-year-old from Lyari, was once trapped in survival mode — working at a mobile shop by day, studying under candlelight by night. With mentorship and access to online scholarships, he eventually made it to a tech fellowship in Germany. Today, he builds software and teaches young kids back home. His story is one of breaking free — not from poverty alone, but from the limits imposed on his mind.
Escaping Survival Mode: A Wake-Up Call
Survival mode is a dangerous place to stay in. It dulls the senses, drains joy, and limits potential. The first step out is awareness. Recognizing that your routine, though functional, may not be fulfilling. Then comes courage — to ask difficult questions: Am I happy? Do I feel connected? Am I present in my own life?
We need to stop glorifying suffering and start valuing presence, rest, joy, and meaning. We need to re-imagine education not just as a tool for employment, but for empowerment. We need leaders who prioritize health and happiness, not just highways and headlines.
Choose to Live, Not Just Exist
We are not born merely to survive. We are not here just to pay bills, scroll feeds, or chase hollow dreams. We are here to feel the wind, to taste fruit, to hold hands, to cry deeply, and laugh louder. To connect. To grow. To contribute.
In Sindh, in Pakistan, and across the world, we must rise from survival and step into living. It begins with a shift in mindset and extends into how we educate, govern, and love. Let us not wait until old age or tragedy to realize we never truly lived. Let today be the moment we awaken.
Because the greatest tragedy is not death — it is never having truly lived while we were alive.
Read: Feudalism Must Fall
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
