...from misery day after day
...from waking up depressed day after day
...from struggling through week after week itching for the weekends
No. I haven't stopped working. But hopefully I am going to do something that I'd really enjoy and for money that is not a whole lot less than what I get now :-)
My dad was really surprised when I told him that I'd take a paycut. He'd always thought that I had only Mammon for a God (Truth be said, I have none). Call it a reaction to his attitude of "Money doesn't matter at all. Hankering after material things won't bring you happiness", but I'd always been really, really hungry earlier. In fact my favorite quotes were
"Money isn't everything. It is the ONLY thing"
"Happiness can't buy you money"
"Money can't buy you happiness, but it sure helps"
Growing up in commie land, if you hate the system, you'll end up being extremely rightwing. I grew up admiring Gordon Gekko ;-) and wanted to be a "Master of the Universe" finding little irony in neither "Wall Street" nor "Bonfire of the Vanities". Sure have changed over the years. When you are 16, you can't imagine that you'd ever fail at getting something you want. You never imagine that life could spring nasty surprises on you. And you have no idea that any job that pays you tons of money could make you feel miserable at the end of it. You can't imagine a world where leisure is at a premium. How can you when you spend a lot of your time dreaming up new ways to kill time!!!
Things sure have changed in the last 10 years. And like Toffler says in future shock about the world, "Change is accelerating" - think that is true of my life as well. And probably that of most of us when we cross 25. I'm not sure what happens. You go through a whole process of reassessing your priorities in life. Maybe because you realize that you are not happy the way things are. Or maybe because of someone or something that changes you. You slow down and your idea of spending time is not the same as it was earlier. You start being content with lazy moments that would have had you saying "I'm getting bored to death just sitting here" 10 years back!
Wishing that I'd been wiser as a teen. But as Osho says "Knowledge can be passed on, but wisdom has to be learned"
ubergeek, the
4 comments:
Yup . Growing up changes perspectives.
Cyn: Think that growing up never stops :-/
Reassessing as you go IS key. It doesn't have to be, "What mistakes must I fix now", but can just be a positive readjustment of some kind. Living in the land of excess, I'm also bombarded with the need for the latest and greatest. But on the financial scale, a teacher doesn't get the chances of a Wallstreet tycoon. So, my learned wisdom has been to look at what I've affected in this life, and I know I've done good for a bunch of kids. I've found satisfaction in some things and that has helped.
Good luck with finding your purpose, helps with depression. :)
Finding Heart: Thanks! Yeah, I too wanted to make a difference. Still do :-) Think that is the key. And I'm no Wall Street tycoon ;-) Wanted to be at one point. Not anymore.
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