My job is good. Really, it is. We’ve been with each other a long time and shared a lot of laughs. Some grim moments, too, but it has always provided for me, treated me well, and been completely faithful. It’s there first thing in the morning and I think about it each night before going to sleep.
What more could a man ask for?
Well, you see, something else has caught my eye. My heart’s all wrapped up in it. It’s called travel, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
The truth is that I’ve been using my job to travel. [Cue Tiger Woods media blitz.]
Hmm, let’s pause for a second. I’m in a tricky situation seeing as how this is a public website chock full of identifiable information, and I am employed. Subsequently, I might not be able to carry my extended metaphors as far as I’d like. Please bear with me as I navigate these straits; the last thing I want to do right now is scrape the equivalent of a WWII-era sea mine and sink this ship. So, where was I?
Jobs share a lot in common with relationships. It’s hard finding the right one, getting out can be messy, and it’s really easy to settle on what you’ve got. Some hang onto their jobs because they think they’ll never find another one as good. This last situation is truly vile. Generally there’s something really great about the job, like the salary is ridiculously above what you should be making or the benefits are fantastic or the people are great. You get the idea. But the bottomline is that the spark is missing and you’re only getting older. There’s no flame in your eye and make no mistake – others can tell. Maybe it’s time to break up. Here’s some friendly advice:
- You can’t maintain the facade forever. There will come a time when you will freak out and do something you regret if you don’t address the situation early on and develop a plan. Pay attention to your mental and physical well-being. If you’re ignoring a problem it will manifest there (see: trouble sleeping, appetite fluctuations, malaise). Watch the movie Falling Down. Yeah, don’t be Michael Douglas.
- Age? Pffft. You’re never too old to follow the spark. Living a life whiled away is the greatest cataclysm of all. Prevent it.
- If you think everything is ok, question yourself. Life shouldn’t be “ok.” It should be great, amazing, indescribable. The hardest part can be recognizing that you aren’t doing what you want to be doing.
- Prioritize. What’s more important, a life of comfort or one of adventure? Everyone is different here, but make sure you think up some interesting scenarios. For example, if you were lying on your deathbed now, would you be happy with how you’ve lived your life? If not, did you think it would suddenly improve in your old(er) age? Regret is the ghost limb you can feel but can’t use.
Have you been in a “good” job? What did you end up doing?