Monday, July 11, 2011

Welcome To The Shark Pool, Part 3

Welcome and thanks for joining me! Oh yes, I know, it has been quite a while since I uploaded my last posting here. Sadly, the reasons for becoming and staying somewhat quiet, at least as for showing and joining online activities, is indeed connected to the subject from this article's headline.

Right now I really feel like a survivor, even though the only thing that changed for me is the pool (just to stick to that metaphor). But in the end isn't it the most important thing to feel good when you go out there to earn your living? Of course, the salary is nothing that can be left aside completely as we are still living in a world were most goods and services are traded for money. We need shelter, we need food and drink, we need clothes, and I have been told that some of the people out there have something that is called a life - whatever that is supposed to be. And all of those things come at their price - which we have to pay if we want them or if we need them. On the other hand there are some things money just can't buy.

I came across a quote by Voltair which made me think: "In the first half of our life we sacrifice our health in order to win money – and in the second half of our life we sacrifice money in order to recover health. And during all this time we lose our health." - Now wait a second and read it again. Take your time, I will be right here...

To be honest I found that quote multiple times on the web, each one slighly different from others, and no source could reassure me that it was really Voltair who said it. But let's assume he did. (And yes, I know what 'assuming' can make of you and me.) Anyway, I really do think that there are way too many people out there who are a living proof to that statement. But why do we act like that? Feel free to try and find your personal answer to this question. I, for one, found that it was about time to bring on a change as I was literally sick of it all.

The basic idea of bringing on an change was a simple one: I left the big pool with those huge, aggressive and bloodthirsty sharks. Truth be told, it happened that I decided to leave shortly before I was sort of asked to leave. But again, that is a completely different story.

Looking back, the whole ecosystem there had become more and more imbalanced. Remembering some basic stuff we all have been told in biology classes about predator-prey relationship, it just isn't a good thing when the number of predators keeps rising. When finally the beasts of prey start to turn against each other because there is nothing else left to go after, they are doomed.

Feeling trapped in a situation like that, with body and mind suffering from it already, I just had to leave. The new pool is a smaller one with the water at a pleasant temperaturer, the sharks aren't that huge and they are of an totally unexpected kindness. It sure sounds strange but I kid you not.

It all came at a price, of course. Ahead of the final decision I spent many nights on mulling over the options and calculating expenses over and over again. I had to give up some habits, I had to cancel some services and subscriptions and I even had to change my default grocery shopping list. Last but not least I was able to save money by moving closer to my new workplace. Yes, there was quite some stuff I had to take care of, and I was far from being sure that it would work.

So far it did and I am more than happy about it. Right here I come back to the quote above, which I have to say had some impressive impact on my life so far. Even though I am earning less money now and I have to go through the whole socialising thing again (and again), the sum of changes brought back to me a state of health I never thought I would be in ever again. I am very impressed, to say the least. Time will tell which level of health I will re-gain but as long as things don't get as bad as they had become for me about a year ago I will be more than happy.

That said, I am off for another swim in that lovely little shark pool, and I am sure I will enjoy it? If you want to join, feel free to do so. And if you prefer to stay outside that is fine with me, too. Maybe you have to find a way to earn some more money...