Do you like my cards? I do, however the Zen Dog really appealed to me. Thought was given to it and it was made personal, it relates to how the next year is hopefully going to be. The words inside related to fun and experiences, both of these are really important to me. Life is short and both fun and experiences are gifts that keep giving because of the memories and stories, one of the many reasons why today I am leaving work to start my travels.
Other than Japan on my list of Countries I can’t say I am really looking forward to anything in particular or have anything planned in any Country. But I have been looking forward to the journey and discovering as I go, which the words of the card describe so well.
He knows not where he’s going
For the ocean will decide –
It’s not the DESTINATION……It’s the glory of THE RIDE
Leaving work was a destination, leaving the people was the ride. The work, although varied and challenging at times could be done at any company, however the people they were something else. People who were honest, sincere and accepting, people who I will miss.
Working up to my last day I knew I had made the right choice to travel. This was helped along when my dad retired a little while back. I calculated that, bar a massive change in my life situation, I would be working for another 30+ years before I retire and after a rather hectic four years this option clearly was the best choice for me right now. The only time it hit of what I was going to truly miss was just after I cleared my desk and I knew I would not be seeing the people I have enjoyed spending so much time with for the last 4 years, people who were free enough to allow others to be themselves, people who were brilliant listeners, people who connected with a laugh & a joke, people who were kind and caring.
Driving from the office on Friday evening I knew I had done it again. Made that right choice in the big picture, but felt so completely wrong at that particular moment in time. My mind took me back to the last couple of times I left a fantastic group of people because of opportunities I knew I would later regret if I did not follow them. Some people I have lost contact with, others whenever we meet it is like neither of us has ever been away.
This is becoming a pattern in my life which I have been following since I went through a tough time in my early 20’s and started learning all I could about life. Learning from Buddhism that one day I will die has enabled me to make opportunities and experiences happen. Opportunities that will, hopefully, make me a better person. One thing I know for sure is that I will not be able to take any physical objects with me when I part this planet, but experiences and an enriched soul based on health, happiness, love, kindness and compassion is still unproven either way if they would be taken into the next life, but what is known is that focusing on enriching the soul does make me happier in this life.
My last day and my hour drive home in to the next chapter of my life bought up all these thoughts and feelings with a realisation that people and experiences mean a lot to me. Whenever I meet with the people who matter we tend to carry on where we left off within a minute or two. My guess is that this is what will happen with the people I was most sad to be leaving on my last day, and when we meet next I think the memories and stories will most definitely put a smile on my face.
2 replies on “Last Day at Work”
A nice read. I 100% agree with you that we take memories and experiences with us. Too many people in today’s world hugely over-value money and possessions. We don’t know how long we’ll be here, but what we can do is make it count while we ARE here.
Thank you Tony. I really appreciate the comment. It looks like we are on the same page on this. There are a couple of really good books on the subject. Stuffocation and Voluntary Simplicity. I have not read ‘Stuffocation’ yet, but am looking forward to do so as I travel.