I almost forgot how to live.
I had the opportunity to work with and for an influential man. The experience was priceless but the cost I had to pay was too much. I loved my job but I was slowly killing myself working an average 12hours a day without rest. I quit two days ago.
After a month of overworking myself, I realised that it was no use overworking myself making a lot of money and I cannot spend because I might die of exhaustion or end up with serious health issues that will require all the money I made to save my life.
I used to wake up each morning to a healthy breakfast, spoke and met my friends often. I had time for myself. I slept and had enough rest every day. I always remembered to pray. I watched tv, read, drunk wine and laughed often. I lived. But when I started my managerial work, I stopped doing all these things. Even getting 5 minutes to call someone was a luxury. I always forgot to do so many little things like eat or clean my room. I had no time. It is true that some people can be so busy they actually forget to call their loved ones because I have lived it.
Most often I came home after midnight and I was grateful I had no nuclear family to come home to because they would hardly see me since I have to leave early in the morning for work and return late in the night.
Today is my birthday. It is a new beginning for me. I will not overwork myself ever again. Any work that requires that I have to be exhausted every day, I will not do it. I do not care if the pay is huge. What is the use of money I cannot spend?! I want a job with a flexible time so I can do other things as well. I want to spend time with my loved ones.
Two months ago I lost a friend and I have still not mourned her, because I was too busy working. While all my friends had time to go visit her family and mourn our dear departed friend, I was stuck at work. While everyone remembered her with memories I was just quiet the whole time because I know while they were spending time with her, I was working.
Work and money is good, but I will not kill myself because of them. The greatest wealth is our health, without our healthy we cannot work to make money. So I have decided my health is more important than money. I know people who take their medication every day because they were too busy working and neglected their health, but now she spends huge sums of money to take care of herself. I do not want to end up with health issues like her. While I have my health, I will take good care of it.
Unfortunately not everyone can quit their tedious jobs, but try and make time for yourself and loved ones. Ask for a day off and just live. It is better to live sometimes than not live at all. If you are fortunate to have a job that requires little time, then make good use of your time.
Live. Live a little. Live sometimes. Live a lot. Live all the time. Live always. Live however you can. Just live. I have lost enough people to death and some of my life to work to know the importance of living. You do not need a lot of money to live. You can experience living in so many ways; laugh, eat, drink, hug, smile, dance, sing, talk, rest, sleep, explore, travel, read, watch tv, watch movies, meet new people, pray, fall in love, get married, have children, go on vacations and do all the things that make you happy.
Chale just remember to live!
I can relate to your story….. Certain Jobs in Ghana is another form of imprisonment. We chase after some money that wanes off the very moment we get it and the cycle continues till we die not living our dreams