At least, I know what I’m doing
the career ladder was a real tragedy of adulthood
And to improve our lives, we need to sharpen the right motivation in our hearts.
Hiii!! Here’s another story from Artspace. Hope you enjoy it!
I woke up late this morning because of the coffee I had with my father last night. I rushed to the bathroom and completed my usual morning routine. My father helped me prepare my lunch box, and with a snap of my fingers, I headed to the bus station. I wasn’t too late, but the rush still bothered me, and I don’t like being in a hurry. It was a messy morning during my first week of work, with a little drama and a lot of noise in my head.
I was a junior editor at a large media company near London—a job with more than enough privileges and rewards. I had worked hard for nearly ten years in journalism, carefully crafting my career path, hoping the climb would be as smooth as I expected. But things never happened the way I wanted. All I faced were nightmares of multiple revisions, the fear of on-site interviews, and the threat of violence during my trips. To sum up all the challenges, the thought of resigning was always at the back of my mind.
In some ways, we were all wrestling with the same questions about work, ambition, and what it meant to truly live.
The whole process of climbing the career ladder was a real tragedy of adulthood, and it reminded me of my friends’ discussions about the philosophy of work.
Later that evening, as I sat down to dinner with two of my closest friends, Tina and Aldrich, the conversation drifted toward work. I couldn’t help but think back to my own struggles and how similar they were to theirs. In some ways, we were all wrestling with the same questions about work, ambition, and what it meant to truly live.
“Work is one of the most devastating things in human life. I wish we could find a way to distribute all resources evenly,” Tina said in her frustrated voice during a hard day at the pharmaceutical company.
“But at least we’re doing something with our lives, Tina. Imagine if resources were distributed fairly—then what would we do?” Aldrich replied in a soft tone. He knew Tina had a sensitive heart.
“To be human, Aldrich. Don’t you realize we’re working like robots right now? Or is it just me? I can barely engage in social activities, like joining clubs or even nurturing the relationships I have. My world revolves around work,” Tina said, provoking Aldrich. These two were the most workaholic people I’d ever met, yet they had different perspectives on work.
“Perhaps the burden you’re feeling comes from setting the bar too high in your career. Is it because you always strive for perfection and want to jump to the next project as soon as possible?” Aldrich asked.
“Everyone has their own dreams, Aldrich. Maybe Tina has specific goals she wants to achieve, and that’s why she works so hard,” I added gently, trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings.
“But to work and forget to be human? I think work helps us stay human as much as possible. If work becomes a threat to our sanity, could that be a bad sign or maybe a sign of growth?” Aldrich asked, leaving us speechless for a moment.
“I think both perspectives are valid and can be reasons to explore the situation more deeply. At the very least, we know what we’re doing in our jobs right now. Motivation drives us,” I said.
“The negative leads to stress, but the positive can benefit the body,” Tina added.
“I think you’re right. Work can be devastating, but it’s also a tool to improve our lives. And to improve our lives, we need to sharpen the right motivation in our hearts,” Tina continued.
“I understand your pain, Tina. I know you’re struggling with your workload, and I’m not suggesting you tolerate every toxic trait in your company. Tolerate what you can, and be indifferent to what you can’t. I know you’re fully aware of what you’re doing,” I said.
Our conversations over dinner always warmed my heart. It comforted me to know I wasn’t alone in this journey.
Thank you for reading. Hope you learn something from this short article.
