CHERISH THIS LIFE
I read something potent today – something that had been on my mind for some time. Is it really worth it in life to be running around, in a bid to make money and acquire all things that money can buy and compromise everything you have ever wanted to do in life in the process.
The last three years of my professional life have made me think about the necessity of it all. I have achieved most of what I set out to quite early on in my career, but still it’s not enough – and I don’t think it would ever be as well!! Call it greed if you will!! But somehow am not satisfied – it’s never enough!
The money that I earn is never enough – there’s always a peer that earns more – lives better…! Why is it that just about a month after I land up a better paying job with perceptibly better work – I start looking around for greener pastures again! It doesn’t take more that a month for me to get dissatisfied with the set-up I am in! And to think of it that the generation before us would stick to their first job till they touched retirement! A friend’s dad just completed 30 years in the same organization! Compare this with the current scenario where I have friends who have been in jobs for less than 6 months!!
Are we a restless generation with too many choices and opportunities and are we running too much in the horde for better pay packets and bigger roles? And is it really worth it? Is it doing any good to us? Have we forgotten what we like doing most? Have we compromised on our interests and happiness and peace of mind in the process? And frankly, how many of us love the jobs they do?
Very few of us have the good fortune to choose a career that interests them – something that they really love doing – something that they are really passionate about – and something that is practical enough to pay well!!
I, for one, have realized that am caught in an awful rut of deadlines, timelines and every situation that I don’t want to be in.
I love books – There was a time when I used to read a book every week.
I haven’t read more than 2 books since a year and a half now.
I love to paint – I have this cupboard full of old works – some good, some not so good.
I haven’t painted or sketched since the last 6 months.
I make interesting collages.
I haven’t made one in three and half years.
I love to dance (I think I have a knack for it as wellJ) – even learnt jazz at one point.
I haven’t danced since 8 months now.
And all because I have been too busy - flitting through jobs in the pursuit of the ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ job. Isn’t it a tragedy that I have had to compromise on everything that I loved doing and in the bargain do things that I never fancied.
Sadly this story finds its parallel in a lot of my friends’ lives today. Is it worth it? I don’t think so anymore – it’s never going to be enough.
However much I earn there will always be room for more.
However much I grow in the organization I can still do better.
However hard I try to excel in a project – it will never be enough – it could still be better.
But in the race to get better and bigger and meeting professional challenges – we should not over-stretch ourselves and compromise our sanity in the bargain.
Let’s all make a promise to ourselves:
To pay attention to and nurture ourselves.
To cherish this life…
This is a promise I have made to myself today. Have you?
I read something potent today – something that had been on my mind for some time. Is it really worth it in life to be running around, in a bid to make money and acquire all things that money can buy and compromise everything you have ever wanted to do in life in the process.
The last three years of my professional life have made me think about the necessity of it all. I have achieved most of what I set out to quite early on in my career, but still it’s not enough – and I don’t think it would ever be as well!! Call it greed if you will!! But somehow am not satisfied – it’s never enough!
The money that I earn is never enough – there’s always a peer that earns more – lives better…! Why is it that just about a month after I land up a better paying job with perceptibly better work – I start looking around for greener pastures again! It doesn’t take more that a month for me to get dissatisfied with the set-up I am in! And to think of it that the generation before us would stick to their first job till they touched retirement! A friend’s dad just completed 30 years in the same organization! Compare this with the current scenario where I have friends who have been in jobs for less than 6 months!!
Are we a restless generation with too many choices and opportunities and are we running too much in the horde for better pay packets and bigger roles? And is it really worth it? Is it doing any good to us? Have we forgotten what we like doing most? Have we compromised on our interests and happiness and peace of mind in the process? And frankly, how many of us love the jobs they do?
Very few of us have the good fortune to choose a career that interests them – something that they really love doing – something that they are really passionate about – and something that is practical enough to pay well!!
I, for one, have realized that am caught in an awful rut of deadlines, timelines and every situation that I don’t want to be in.
I love books – There was a time when I used to read a book every week.
I haven’t read more than 2 books since a year and a half now.
I love to paint – I have this cupboard full of old works – some good, some not so good.
I haven’t painted or sketched since the last 6 months.
I make interesting collages.
I haven’t made one in three and half years.
I love to dance (I think I have a knack for it as wellJ) – even learnt jazz at one point.
I haven’t danced since 8 months now.
And all because I have been too busy - flitting through jobs in the pursuit of the ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ job. Isn’t it a tragedy that I have had to compromise on everything that I loved doing and in the bargain do things that I never fancied.
Sadly this story finds its parallel in a lot of my friends’ lives today. Is it worth it? I don’t think so anymore – it’s never going to be enough.
However much I earn there will always be room for more.
However much I grow in the organization I can still do better.
However hard I try to excel in a project – it will never be enough – it could still be better.
But in the race to get better and bigger and meeting professional challenges – we should not over-stretch ourselves and compromise our sanity in the bargain.
Let’s all make a promise to ourselves:
To pay attention to and nurture ourselves.
To cherish this life…
This is a promise I have made to myself today. Have you?
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