- Oct 22, 2000
- 24,514
- 44
- 91
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Are we really meant to live the way we do? Are the choices that we're making in this modern society really the ones that are the best for us in terms of happiness and the things that "really matter" in life?
I see this at work a lot, and a major re-org meeting the other day really drove it home because of some things our new COO (Chief Operating Officer) said. We, as a whole, are choosing to take the best years of our lives, the years when we're young and vital and capable of really enjoying _life_, and grinding ourselves into the ground because we're chasing after a few more zeros on the number in our bank accounts. We're sacrificing our youth and our energy for money and neglecting our own happiness, and through some strange inversion of perception, we think we're better off this way because we can buy more stuff or be more comfortable with the bills we have to pay.
I'm buying right into this too. I'm 23. I work 60 hours a week minimum and start each morning by being in the office at 4 am (awake at 3 am). I knew exactly what was expected when I took the job and I was actually happy to take it because it pays well, has great benefits, and if I work my arse off, I can "go places" (whatever the hell that means, I used to think I knew). I'm kicking butt at the job too. Getting rave reviews from everyone involved and my co-workers love me. But it just doesn't seem to be worth it. I come home every day too tired to cook a decent dinner. I wake up each morning swearing at the alarm clock, and leave the office every evening tense and angry.
It's been a steady, slow, downhill since I started the job and anymore I really think that it's a shame I can't just leave and become a farmer or something. There's a reward to hard work. The best job I ever had was doing landscape and grounds work at a state park. I worked hard for 9 hours a day, but had something to show for my work and had time to have a life of my own when I was done at the end of the day. The more I get into the corporate world, the more I believe that we've cheated ourselves by choosing this kind of life.
It's funny. I'm exactly where I thought I wanted to be when I was younger. Except I'm not happy.
Anyone else feel the same way? Is all this really worth it if we have no time to really live?
ZV
P.S. No, there will not be Cliff's Notes. Deal with it.
I see this at work a lot, and a major re-org meeting the other day really drove it home because of some things our new COO (Chief Operating Officer) said. We, as a whole, are choosing to take the best years of our lives, the years when we're young and vital and capable of really enjoying _life_, and grinding ourselves into the ground because we're chasing after a few more zeros on the number in our bank accounts. We're sacrificing our youth and our energy for money and neglecting our own happiness, and through some strange inversion of perception, we think we're better off this way because we can buy more stuff or be more comfortable with the bills we have to pay.
I'm buying right into this too. I'm 23. I work 60 hours a week minimum and start each morning by being in the office at 4 am (awake at 3 am). I knew exactly what was expected when I took the job and I was actually happy to take it because it pays well, has great benefits, and if I work my arse off, I can "go places" (whatever the hell that means, I used to think I knew). I'm kicking butt at the job too. Getting rave reviews from everyone involved and my co-workers love me. But it just doesn't seem to be worth it. I come home every day too tired to cook a decent dinner. I wake up each morning swearing at the alarm clock, and leave the office every evening tense and angry.
It's been a steady, slow, downhill since I started the job and anymore I really think that it's a shame I can't just leave and become a farmer or something. There's a reward to hard work. The best job I ever had was doing landscape and grounds work at a state park. I worked hard for 9 hours a day, but had something to show for my work and had time to have a life of my own when I was done at the end of the day. The more I get into the corporate world, the more I believe that we've cheated ourselves by choosing this kind of life.
It's funny. I'm exactly where I thought I wanted to be when I was younger. Except I'm not happy.
Anyone else feel the same way? Is all this really worth it if we have no time to really live?
ZV
P.S. No, there will not be Cliff's Notes. Deal with it.
Facebook
Twitter