Finding Fulfillment in a World of “More”
Recently, I bumped into a story that helped me wake up, the message was powerful enough that I decided to quit working, if you recall my first blog post, I lost a happy family due to being a workaholic and unable to prioritize family over work. I never learned the lesson, so life repeats itself.
The story:
Long ago, there was a soul, just like many of us, working very hard, wanting to be more successful, have more wealth, and more comforts for himself and his family. The soul prayed, not really knowing what the end goal was.
One day the soul bumps into a divine God. Soul asks “O Lord of all, grant me the lands of this world, let them be mine.“
With a graceful smile, God answers: “The world’s expanse cannot be held by one hand, but I offer you a journey. At the first light of dawn, you shall walk, and all the paths your feet trace until the next dawn shall be yours.”
A spark of ambition ignited in the soul. Through the night, anxiety kicks in, cannot rest, routes imagined, and dreams of boundless ownership take heart.
As the first rays of the sun kissed the horizon, the soul began the quest, skipping breakfast as he could cover more land in the time, skipping lunch, and dinner, ignoring the whispers of weariness and the pangs of thirst. The soul now has reached far from the land where it belongs, with no one to help.
As twilight painted the sky in hues of deep violet, the soul stumbled, its strength failing, the soul collapsed, and the journey ended.
The Weight of the Grind
I work hard. No, harder. Every single day. I skip meals to attend to work. I often forget to sleep. Lost all my friends, family and co. I can’t even remember the last time I took a day off. Even when I’m physically away, my mind races, a constant, nagging work issue. The PTSD is real. I’m always terrified that something is broken at work, and that I have to fix it. The grind is real, and the burnout is real.
I failed to realize this six years ago. I kept telling myself it would get better with time. Six years later, I’m in the same state. I was born into a poor family, and my dad always told me to work hard. That’s all I’ve been conditioned to do: work more, do better.
Now, I see the toll it’s taking. I’ve already lost my family, unable to escape the grip of work addiction. But it’s never too late to realize and correct. I’ve gone too far with this addiction, and I don’t think I can hold on any longer.
I’ve decided to quit working and figure out what I need. I’m terrified, though. I don’t know anything besides work. I can’t imagine what I’ll do if I don’t work. This is all I’ve known since I became an adult.
Let’s face it, human life is a cosmic accident. We’re here, but there’s no grand plan, no inherent meaning. We don’t owe anyone an explanation, and ultimately, nothing we do really matters. Science has been saying this for ages. Don’t believe me? Look up Jefferson Lab’s ‘The Origin of the Elements’ lecture.
What would you do differently if you were me?