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Don't forget to live a little sometimes
Friday, 18 August 2006
Modern Western culture is obsessed with the benefits of hard-work. Sometimes, it seems to consume our lives. We put in all sorts of hours improving ourselves and our financial situation in order to "get ahead in life".
This is all good and as it should be. Most of the good things in life come about as a result of work.
But don't get too carried away with chasing your goals. Remember to take a break every now and again to enjoy the fruits of your labour. After all, the point of the whole exercise is supposed to be making your life more enjoyable. If you're not taking time to have some fun sometimes, then the whole thing is in vain.
An advertisement I once saw for a travel company summed it up quite well: "In the great scheme of things, your work is insignificant. Have a holiday."
Believe it or not, the whole world probably won’t come crashing down around you if you decide to take a bit of time off. It got on perfectly well without your input for billions of years, and will probably be able to manage on its own if your cellphone is switched off for a few hours.
Make sure at least once a day, and for at least a few days a year, to spend some time having some real rip-roaring fun. Something that makes you laugh out loud and forget about all your troubles.
I'm not talking about play that's really just work in disguise - such as going to the gym, study, or throwing a big show-off party. What I'm talking about is something that has no point, purpose or reward except its own enjoyment. Good examples are watching a funny film, deciding to have a barbeque for dinner, or going for a walk in the park.
After all, you're only alive for a few short decades. There are billions of years either side in which you won't be here at all.
We live in a world where we want to achieve stuff. We all wish things were different from how they are, and realise it's possible to put in some effort to make them so. Those who know how to get off their backsides and get things done appreciate that the rewards for doing so are often worth it. But keep it all in perspective and enjoy a bit of work-life balance.
Your time on this planet is the most precious gift you'll ever be given. This is particularly true of your youth. Don't squander the whole lot making yourself miserable in pusuit of some abstract goal. Save at least a bit of it for yourself. Burn that bit up by having some fun and remembering how great it is simply to be alive.
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