Time Out

If you're a working person in today's corporate world, life sort of passes by in a haze of events. Especially if your career has just begun. You want to prove yourself, show everyone what you're capable of achieving. Most of us have been brought up with the ideology that you work while you're young and save up for when you're old. The thought is that you can fulfill your dreams after you've made enough. But I wonder if we'll ever make enough and isn't it true that the time when you can actually make the most of life is when you have the strength and enthusiasm to do things. I don't think people beyond a certain age can't do something they want to, but why wait, why not make the most of every year, every day.

Trip to Velas with Ornella and Miah to see turtles hatch and take their first steps into the world. Really loved this weekend trip.

The last year was something of a haze to me. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy my life at all. However, work took up most of my time. Let me give you a brief idea of my day;
6 am - Wake up
6.30 am - Get ready
7 am - Leave for work
8.30 am - Reach work
8.40 am - Start work (my PC sometimes took 30-45 mins to start)
10.30 am - Coffee break
10.45 am - Back to work
1.30 pm - Lunch break
2 pm - Back to work (if things weren't crazy I'd maybe get back to work at 2.15)
3.30 pm - Tea break
3.40 pm - Back to work
5.50 pm - Leave for home (if there is meeting, I'd get home at 10.30 pm)
7.45 pm - Reach home (if traffic is truly crazy 9 pm)

Sometimes, work would follow me home. On days when I couldn't travel due to transport or health issues, it was a good option. However, the rest of the time it was irksome, sigh. I wish I could just work from home for good. I really love freelancing for this reason alone, as sometimes payments can be ridiculously delayed for no apparent reason.

There was little time to pursue any passion other than catching up on sleep. My weekends were all about catching up with friends and family. Taking care of myself, my health to be specific became low priority. Most of us sacrifice a lot for our work. I always wonder if your work, your boss truly appreciate that you're sacrificing your life for the sake of your work. I've seen very few cases where there is even acknowledgement of the fact that you have life beyond work.

Chatting with Namiko-san about playing the Shamisen after my performance at the Cool Japan Festival

One such incident occurred when a manager handed in some work about two hours before I had to leave. It was a task that would take me a full day to finish it. Note that he knew about this work the day before and told me that he would sending in the file by noon. Meanwhile, I had been working all day on another task handed to me by the same manager. About an hour after I began on the task, he walks up to me and asks, "So how much is left to be done?" I looked at him somewhat incredulous and said, "Most of it. You gave this to me not more than an hour ago." He looked at me dumbfounded and said, "Ok let me know when you finish it." I looked at him in annoyance saying, "It will be done by lunch time tomorrow. I'm leaving in another hour, I'll do as much as I can but it will not be possible to finish it." He puffed up and declared, "You'll have to stay back and finish it. This has to be sent in on priority (I don't know why managers say this, it makes me think priority is some type of mailing system.)" Unfortunately, for the manager, I had plans for that evening besides they had been annoying me by giving me work that technically wasn't even mine. So looking him squarely between the eyes and in a tone that was oddly calm and I probably had a sinister smile for all I know, I said "If it had to be sent in on priority, you should have handed it in on priority. You will get it by lunch time tomorrow." He was speechless and I was dying trying to keep a straight face.

My dear friend Indy at Red Box

While working seems to give me good stories. I'm currently making the most of my time off aka time out. I was planning to take up a new job and I was busy giving interviews in March. But a sudden bout of food poisoning and mysterious fever got me thinking that maybe its time I focus on my health. Ever since I've begun working I seem to have fallen prey to some infection or illness. I rarely ever fell ill in school or college. I'm going to use my time to find something that allows me to take care of my health.

The one thing I definitely miss from my last job are my colleagues, I've always been fortunate to have excellent colleagues but these guys were kindred spirits. I miss our coffee and tea breaks, all the wonderful conversations, the occasional lunches at fancy places. I hope to see them soon, it's difficult because we're all working. Anyways, a big shout out to Indy, Heta, Ashwati, Foram, Urvi, Sanchari, Nikita, Pratik, Prathamesh, Akshay, Clive and so many other wonderful people who made my day, everyday. I really want to thank you for the wonderful time I had and the beautiful memories that we share. You are awesome, stay awesome.