My brother and I don’t share the same characteristics or personality, apart perhaps perseverance. Our family was made up of white-collar workers, and we went on to have prosperous professions. Even though I married an electrician who runs a very successful business, my brother still believes that he is an electrician. My brother’s harsh comments finally got the better of me one day. He was struck by karma before I was.
I was reared in comfortable circumstances by the most industrious parents I have ever known. Growing up, we had more than we could have ever needed, but my parents made care to instill in their children a work ethic and a business perspective.
My mother, Linda, is a brain surgeon, and my father, Tom, has his own company. Jack, my elder brother, is a lawyer who enjoys showing off how wealthy he is. Despite his desire to launch his own legal practice, he was too indolent to put in the grunt work.
He favored carrying on with his opulent lifestyle, investing in pricey belts, shoes, and outfits. In addition, he has a Porsche, which he talks about often. And to top it off, he and his third fiancée are engaged.
On the other hand, I tend to be lot more reserved and content to blend in the background. I own and operate a successful business. But in reality, my husband Mark makes more money than I do.
He is an expert electrician who earns over four times my income from his thriving business. We choose to keep our money a secret and lead a modest lifestyle despite our wealth. Jack is unaware that Mark attended business school in addition to being an electrician, which enabled him to leverage his expertise to launch a successful company.
Among Mark’s best qualities is his humility. Rather of going overboard with pleasures, he invests a large percentage of his money in businesses and makes philanthropic gifts.
This kindness is known to my parents, particularly since we surprised them with a fully funded trip for their 30th wedding anniversary. My dad was surprised by the gesture because he was a regular traveler and was aware of the high cost associated with the ticket.
Jack and I gave our mother gifts on Mother’s Day. While I got her coupons for multiple spa sessions near her hospital, Jack presented her an ostentatious watch. My mother gave us both heartfelt thanks at our celebration, as usual.
Jack suddenly found it impossible to contain his boasts over the watch’s price. He gave Mark a sidelong glance before teasingly remarking that an electrician could never afford something so extravagant.
“Mom, the watch is indeed a limited edition. The salesperson gave it to me right away, knowing that I would accept it since she knew that I was a well-known lawyer. If an electrician had entered, things may have turned out differently, Jack scoffed. “No offense,” he continued, turning to face Mark.
Although Mark dismissed it with a smile, I could see the anxiety in his eyes. Jack persisted in his disparaging remarks regarding Mark’s work. “You know, mending outlets and wires? How challenging can it possibly be? Jack laughed.
I eventually had enough of him disparaging my partner, who had put in more effort than my brother to get his current position. To be honest, Jack probably had no idea that my husband could purchase his legal practice and makes five times as much as he does. My spouse and I said nothing.
I had always detested Jack’s conceit, but his most recent act was the final straw. I immediately concluded that he needed to learn humility, but little did I realize that karma had already prepared the groundwork.
A few weeks later, my parents’ house hosted a cookout for our family. As usual, Jack was late but made a spectacular entry in his Porsche. He parked it at the front, where it would be clearly seen to everybody.
He entered the room carrying Emily, his fiancée, and showed her off like a new trophy. As he went about bragging about his most recent court triumph and the extravagant vacation he was arranging for his third marriage, he made his rounds.
I inhaled deeply as the afternoon went on, prepared to carry out my plan to discipline Jack. I found out that the purse he had purchased for Emily was a fake. I had the exact same bag—a real one that Mark had given me.
I intended to compare the two in front of everyone to reveal this. We heard a disturbance coming from the front of the house just as I was ready to call everyone together for the unveiling.
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We hurried outside to discover Jack’s cherished Porsche being hooked up by a tow truck. Jack was fighting with the tow truck driver, clearly in a panic.
“There’s a mistake here,” he stumbled. “I’ll make this right.”
The driver gave a headshake. It’s under new ownership. You have many payment arrears.
Jack got quite pale. His confidence eroding, he turned to face the gathering family members. Emily slipped into the home, obviously ashamed. Jack found himself standing by himself, rather unlike the haughty man who had entered before.
At last, he admitted, saying, “I lost my job.” My company had leased the automobile, but I was unable to make the payments since I was unemployed.
Everybody gasped. How come? Clearly astonished, my dad exclaimed, “How come none of us knew?”
Jack sighed, appearing to give up. I’ve been making an effort to hide it. I oversaw a well-publicized case that horribly misfired. The client sued the firm after they suffered a substantial financial loss as a result of my wrongdoing. Right now, nobody wants to hire me.
I felt a mixture of sympathy and delight as I observed him. I had meant for reality to be kinder, but he had really needed to be humbled. Now, the phony bag also made sense. He ultimately failed in his attempt to maintain that image. Silently, I walked up to him.
I mutely said, “Hey.” “Perhaps this is a signal to reconsider things.”
He turned to face me, a vulnerability in his eyes that I had never seen before. “Well, I guess I kind of expected this.”
“Perhaps a little,” I conceded. You are still my brother, though. We are capable of overcoming this.
At that moment, Mark moved closer and touched Jack’s shoulder. “An additional set of hands would be helpful for my company. Although it’s not flashy, the labor is honest and well-paid.
Jack seems taken aback. Would you actually hire me? following everything I mentioned?
“Everyone is worthy of another opportunity,” Mark smiled kindly in response. “I’ll give you all the knowledge you require.”
On that memorable day, when the sun was setting, Jack said yes to Mark’s proposition. He had to start again, which was difficult, but he put in a lot of effort and learned the craft from the bottom up. He eventually gained a fresh appreciation for the importance of sincere, diligent labor. His haughtiness gave way to appreciation and humility.
Life has a way of teaching us things sometimes better than we could. Jack had been sent down a peg, but our family was there for him even if the road ahead was difficult. And maybe, just maybe, he was a better guy after going through this.
Likewise, a family member unexpectedly imparted a lesson to another narcissistic individual.