A Matter Of Choice

Last week had been a horrible and really stressful week for me. I was assigned (forced actually) to complete a case which previously took twenty days in ten days time. Half of the budgeted time and mind you, it's not an easy case. The company is a multi-national company and it deals with the USA. I work till 9pm every night and I have got to take home the rest to do till 2am. To further rub salt into the wound, I have not got my bonus!

It makes me start thinking is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life? A nine till five job in an industry that I am not very interested in, meeting serious and boring people everyday. The plus side of a nine till five job is you give people an impression that you are professional and your work place is air-conditioned and it's suppose to be a low work-hazard job.

Recently, an aunt of mine from USA (literally she doesn't have any blood ties with my family but she is my aunt. Complicated! Got to ask my grandmother how the family tree works.) visited Penang. She is a very independent mother of three.

She has three odd jobs and enjoy every single one of them. She does not earn a lot nor lead an extravagant lifestyle. But she is able to travel around the world for two months and she doesn't have to pay for accommodation. Her odd jobs and her personality made her many friends from around the world. She has many tales to tell from her journeys around the world. She is happy with her current financial position and lifestyle.

This makes me ponder.

Is life all about securing a job with stable income, getting paid regularly, buying house and cars, getting married, multiplying the human race and paying off loan?

Or is it about understanding what this world is all about? To see for yourself the colourful cultures and lifestyles of people from all walks of life.

I might not be rich but I am happy.