| Sunday, February 24, 2008 |
| Within the lines |
The right thing – isn’t that what we have been telling ourselves we are doing all this time, when in effect, we are actually doing the safe thing.Under expectations and pressure to perform, or succeed, we studied really hard in school. Excel at mathematics, the sciences, and every course that could be commercialized. We did the standardized tests and managed to get into a decent university – reputed again for its money-making courses. We enrolled into some form of engineering, computer sciences, or business – that promises a high paying career. We’d joke once in a while about majoring in Literature – toyed with the idea in our heads but that’s where that ended. We played some, studied some in uni – and then landed the typical jobs – Investment Banks, MNCs, etc. The job pays for the apartment, the presents, the occasional holiday and the excessive alcohol.We stay frustrated but busy at the job, spend a good part of the weekend drunk, and/or indulge in retail therapy – and the weekend passes by, leaving us at this time of the Sunday when we think again if this is what we wanted. Of course, we brush away that thought and get to ironing and preparing for the week ahead. We plan the promotions and the GMAT and the MBA and the bigger better paying job and the big house and the bigger bank account.And hence the line between what we want and what we think we want blurs a bit more.
We talk often of wanting to run away, needing *another* vacation, being unhappy, leaving this country – and we do none of that.We envy our friends studying animation, poetry, economics, film making, or those backpacking n taking a break. We talk about how we always wanted to do that – but we never really do anything to make it happen, scared that perhaps we’ll fall in love with what we can’t have.We stay safe. We confine ourselves in self-created cages. Maybe it’s because we owe it to the family back home – maybe because we want to be able to support them, and just like them, be able to provide a similar if not better lifestyle for the next gen.The subtle, underlying struggle we have seen our entire childhood has found a place somewhere within ourselves I guess. Perhaps that’s why we always color within the lines. |
posted by iksha @ 6:49 AM   |
|
| 3 Comments: |
-
ah, the joys and pains of a middle-class existence. our aspirations are postponed so we may save up enough for a rainy day, for that dream that can await realization, etc.
it's liberating to screw it all and just do it :)
plan AC is materializing :D
-
yes it is indeed liberating to break it all and just do it.
I will quite possibly be poor and unemployed for a while. but I refuse to take the safe road.
loved the post :)
-
your writing is being missed =) hope things're good with work n all *hugs*
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
|
|
|
|
ah, the joys and pains of a middle-class existence. our aspirations are postponed so we may save up enough for a rainy day, for that dream that can await realization, etc.
it's liberating to screw it all and just do it :)
plan AC is materializing :D