"Do you want it or do you need it?"
As a kid, every time I asked for something, my mother would always pause and ask, "Do you want it or do you need it?" Little innocent Sukhda never imagined that this simple question was actually my first lesson in understanding the concept of desire. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what she meant—but the question lingered. As I grew older, this question turned into a profound confusion. I began to ask myself: What exactly is a want, and what is a need? Because, if I looked at my life practically, I had everything I needed—a loving family, good friends, a solid education, a square meal every day, and a comfortable shelter over my head. So, what more could I possibly need? And more importantly, is it wrong to want something more? With time and a bit of introspection, I realized— Aai never said it was wrong to want something. She only asked me to reflect. And that, I believe, was the real wisdom in her words. Desire is not inherently bad. In fact, it’s the fundamental dr...