Like in a cob web

Tales from work, part XXXVIII
You know you’ve had a hard day at work when you leave the cab without paying. And when the cab driver honks repeatedly at you, you smile at him and wave goodbye.

There’s definitely more to life than this. There’s gotta be more in a typical weekday than these final 3 hours before I hit the sack again. The time within which I fit in eating, cleaning, talking, listening and breathing altogether. The rest of the day I am the alter ego – faking smiles, shaking hands, requesting for favours, granting favours, being scared shitless, building a name, building a career - or so they say.

It's as if I live a cycle of contradictions on a daily basis. Between wanting to be successful, yet not wanting to succumb to things so unreal and pretentious. Between being in awe of the career portfolio of an audit partner and at the same time sharing his regret for missing out on watching his two sons grow. Between believing that money can't buy happiness and well...believing that it probably can.

But if things were based on a delicate balance and finding that balance was as easy as not winning the lottery, then this world would be problem-free. I have come to terms that work, in essence is not tough. Technical knowledge and professional conduct can be learned off of a book, a mentor or through experience. But my everyday quest is all about tipping my 30-70 scale to a perfect 50-50. Ok, maybe 49-51.

Of niceties and travesties
Human beings have a knack for making things complicated. We always wonder why things can't be much simpler but sub-consciously we abuse and take the essence out of the simplest things. You would think that in a world so manic and insincere, a little act of being nice could probably do us some good. But when we're presented with a nice thought or gesture, we question it, misinterprete it, misunderstand and misuse it. Never do we take them as what they are. And never had I thought that the simple and basic values that I was taught as a kid are now being practised at my own expense and at the detriment of my well-being and reputation. So baby, no more Mr. Nice guy.


The tortoise and the hare
The tale of the tortoise and the hare has been shared with generations and generations. By now, the hares would have learned their lesson and would know not to digress or lose focus in a race. They are now a little bit wiser with the same speed and strength in tow. The tortoises, on the other hand are that much wiser but no faster than what they have always been. They will continue to take it one step at a time and learn to be content with second place. These tortoises now need that extra edge. A new tale of wisdom needs to be made and told.