Everyone wants the prize. No one wants the tax.
But every good thing in life — love, success, peace, fulfillment — charges rent. Daily. And it doesn’t take cash. It takes tradeoffs. Sacrifice. Discomfort.
This one’s for those of us paying dues in private.
Never be afraid of the tax man. He doesn’t just live in Washington. He lives in the gym. In the group chat you never reply to. In your inbox on a Sunday.
You want a good wife? You will pay in presence. In patience. In small fights about nothing that mean everything. In learning the difference between venting and fixing. (Spoiler: You’re not supposed to fix it.)
You want a successful career? You will pay in networking events you didn’t want to attend. In thankless grind. In smiling through a meeting that should’ve been a Slack.
You want to deliver an exceptional experience?You will pay in details no one notices. In over-communicating what should be obvious. In caring more than the job description requires. Because excellence is invisible…until it’s missing.
You want love? You will pay in vulnerability. In getting your hopes up. In staying soft in a hard world.
You want the thrill of live sports? You will sit through 1,000 commercials. McConaughey in a desert saying “Agentic.” You don’t know what it means. He doesn’t either. But he’s paid. And you’re paying to not watch the game yet.
You want peace? You will pay in silence. In saying no. In letting people be wrong about you.
You want legacy? You will pay in years no one claps for. In work that won’t trend. In holding the line when shortcuts look sexy.
Every good thing has a tax. Every meaningful thing has a cost. You can either pay it… Or scroll past, wondering why nothing sticks.
That’s it.
Follow Amas Tenumah I write about customer service and living blissfully.
