My 20 year old self expected my 50 year old self to be a high powered executive making a fortune. I imagined that I would live and work in a big city: like New York City or London. I would take the subway into my office that was in a skyscraper in the middle of the city. My office would have an incredible view. I would be traveling first class to really exotic places like Dubai. My life would be a episode of Dallas and Dynasty.
I’m sure my 20 year old self would wonder what happened to my 54 year old self. I’m not “high powered” or even an executive. Thanks to the pandemic my commute is from the kitchen to the attic where my home office is. I do have an incredible view – but it’s a scenic landscape and not other buildings and city scape.
What happened? Did I mess up somewhere?
I had a flavour of some of these things in my 30’s and 40’s and reality didn’t always match up to my 20 year old imagination. Who would have imagined that commuting wasn’t actually fun, that it can be packed and can make you late. Never thought that travelling might mean flying economy to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and staying in a Marriott Courtyard. I didn’t think that executives live and breathe their work – even if it’s really not that interesting. One executive told me that he’s afraid to express an opinion without others believing that it’s the official opinion of the company, and possibly costing him his job. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to make his salary, but not sure how enjoyable life would be.
They say that the grass is always greener and then you experience it and it’s not as good as you thought. I can literally say that the grass is greener in Moniaive than it is anywhere else I’ve lived and worked. I love walking during lunch on a beautiful rural pathway. I look forward to seeing the horse I pass and stop to pet. I love how the sheep and cows stare at me. The only sound I hear is the river nearby. It’s a fantastic way to clear your mind and come back to work in my attic refreshed.
I hope that once we come out of this pandemic, that people will have more options to work remotely. I’m looking forward to visiting the office and travelling again (even if it’s not to a fancy place). But, I think that it makes a real difference to live and work in a place that gives you so much positive energy.
Scott in Scotland 