I once actively pursued many pastimes when I was young : hiking in the Santa Cruz mountains; kayaking on Monterey Bay; mountain biking to Mission Peak; or just reading a book while listening to my favorite jazz music.
Somehow , those pastimes became less important as I began to focus my time and effort on the daily grind of putting a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, and a few dollars in the bank for a rainy day.
The daily grind became a 45-year "career" as a full-time employee and contractor in Silicon Valley: 17 jobs that lasted 6 months to 6 years (and the 7 layoffs that lasted 3 to 11 months).
As a full-time employee, the daily grind consisted of constantly looking over my shoulder after being let go despite working long hours to meet tight deadlines.
As a contractor, the daily grind consisted of leaving without a trace after 6:00 pm since I was no longer obsessed with the golden handcuffs (eg, health insurance, 401(k) plan, or stock options) that shackled full-time employees to the notion of "job security".
The daily grind eventually came to an end when I moved to a more leisurely (and more affordable) lifestyle in the Central Valley near Sacramento (see Nothing Personal, Just Business).
Friends and family have asked me what I’m doing now. I simply reply that I'm on a "sabbatical". I don't bring work home with me. I don't unwind from the stress of 60 hour work weeks that made me dread Mondays. I'm not obsessed with layoffs that made me dread Wednesdays.
Today, I focus my time and effort on dealing with peripheral neuropathy.
You see, my life ha a a meaning, purpose, and plan. I just have to remember that it's not up to me to know (or understand) all of the details.
