Sunday, May 25, 2008

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR JOB?

How did my parents endure working almost forty years at the same job? How did they endure going through the same mundane routine every single day? How did they...? I guess they did it for the family, for my sister and for me. They did it because they didn't have the luxury of choosing their jobs. Education is truly the key out of poverty and to progress and personal fulfillment. I am glad they did all they could to give me the chance to be educated - newfound respect and gratitude... And MAYBE, they managed to endure the mundane because their jobs do not define who they are. Their lives and their family do. The fear of going through the same old routine for the next 4 decades of my life scares me.

I do not regret my current job. In fact, I'm glad that I was given the chance and that I joined a small local setup and made the choice to enter an industry that I had always been curious about. Despite the relatively low pay, the constant "OT", some ridiculous restrictions at work, the sad truth about my company's "(un)creative" advertising strategies and my objection to some of my boss' plans for the company - the past year had been a great learning experience. At least I didnt' allow societal norms and other people's comments to dissuade me from trying it out. This job gave me considerable freedom to make many decisions on my own and to do things the way I want it. I'm going to miss that...

I just find that slowly... I'm beginning to lose a sense of who I am and I can't allow my job to define who I am. Life can't just be about work - at least that's my mindset for now. At 26, I feel that I need to venture out. I feel that I'm already lagging behind my peers. I need to see what is out there. I need to experience more. I need some time to find myself again.

I guess it's time to move on now... Or to slow down.... Or to redefine who I am... Whatever you call it.... Whatever happens, happens. Cheers to the surprises that tomorrow brings!