trading-off

As an Economics undergrad, asked the question 'how do you define economics in one word?', my immediate answer would be 'trade-off'. Will the liguists agree that trade-off is just one word? I don't know. Anyway, most theories in economics is tantamount to trade-off: isoquant, indifference curve, budget line, isocost. Economics in general is defined as allocation of scarce resources. This definition in fact support that there is something equal in exhange for something that is of value to you.

Through the years, trade-off has become one of my favorite words. It's just so practical to use. Everything is/has a trade-off. My point is, in life, you simply can't have everything especially when I talk about emotional trade-offs. Call it biorhythm, wheel of fortune, life cycle. Whatever. Simply put, nothing is constant and consistent. You may be happy now but don't be too complacent because you'll never know what's for tomorrow. You may have something of value to you but eventually there something you want that you can't have unless you give up something (or maybe that's human insatiability.. haha).

Well, my days have become more of, well, trading off. If I receive a good news, the next I know, something unfortunate and ill-timed is up just before I can fully appreciate the good fate I received. Perhaps, I shouldn't be excited anymore the next time a good news comes.