During an interview, a journalist asked Jackie Chan a simple question:
“Are you satisfied with your life?”
It could have been answered in a sentence. A quick “yes,” or “I’m happy,” and the interview would move on. But Jackie paused. He leaned back, as if weighing the question in his mind, and then, instead of talking about fame, money, or success, he told a story.
“I once heard very wise words,” he began. His voice was calm, but it carried the weight of someone who had lived long enough to see life’s fragility.
“Your hard work is the dream of every unemployed person.
Your restless child is the dream of those who cannot have children.
Your small home is the dream of someone who sleeps under the open sky.
Your little bit of money is the dream of someone drowning in debt.
Your poor health is the dream of someone with an incurable illness.
And your peace—your peaceful sleep, your food within reach—these are the dreams of those who wake up to the sound of bombs in a country at war.”
He let the silence hang for a moment, giving the words space to breathe. It was the kind of pause that makes you hear your own heartbeat.
Jackie continued, his eyes steady:
“We spend so much time chasing what we don’t have that we forget to value what we already hold in our hands. Even the things we call problems—someone else prays to have them. We take for granted the blessings that would be miracles to others.”
He told the journalist that satisfaction isn’t about reaching a point where you have everything—it’s about recognizing the worth of what you already have. It’s understanding that today’s complaints could be tomorrow’s blessings, and that life can change faster than we expect.
“You must appreciate everything you have,” he said softly. “After all, no one knows what tomorrow will bring.”
In that moment, the question wasn’t just answered—it was transformed into a lesson. A reminder that gratitude doesn’t require wealth or perfect circumstances. It only requires the awareness to see what’s already in front of us… and the humility to be thankful for it.
