Choose to Take the Journey

Overslept
So tired
If late
Get fired
Why bother?
Why the pain?
Just go home
Do it again
–Norman B. Colp

The above is printed on the ceiling of the Times Square subway station in New York City.

A quick caveat: I like my job, I do. And I do think making money is not only necessary, but also fairly enjoyable. It allows me to buy nice things and fund my many (mis)adventures. But let’s face it. There are times when Work. Just. Sucks. Big time!

Sometimes you get home and you’re just feeling run-down. How do you find the energy to get up the next morning let alone chase after your dreams? Couch time and hot showers are great to help recover from the daily grind, but if you’re looking for a jolt stronger than a double shot espresso, you’ll need to find an escape. An escape from the nauseating routine of:

go to work,
work,
come home from work,
and sleep early enough to get to work the next day.

For some, escape can be found by tickling the keys of a piano. For others, in the swirling of an egg whisk. For me, the waltz of my pen does the trick just fine. Still others find their escape at the gym, on the road, or in the ocean. Whether you’re reading “Fifty Shades of Grey” or planning a romantic evening for two, your escape should be something that gets you excited, something you can look forward to when the work whistle blows. And just like that, work will seem a lot less monotonous.

Consider this a friendly reminder to not only pursue your lifelong passions, but also your day-to-day happiness. Less corporate zombie, worker bee, robot drone. More suspenseful novels, cocktails on the beach, and laughing at absolutely nothing with your girlfriend. For most, the juice of life is not to be had within the confines of a cubicle or behind a ponderous office desk. It is to be had in the grand halls of your mind, the sinewy flesh of your body, and the soulful moments you share with the people you love, and the people whom you will love.