A few years ago, a notable commercial ad aired the Philippine television screens. It made an impact to me, and without a doubt, to most Filipino viewers as well. It’s an advertisement for a popular coffee brand, and the tagline goes like this: “Para kanino ka bumabangon? (What motivates you to get up every morning?)”
Back then I would answer stuff like, “for my family,” “for my mom,” “for God.” Answering that question felt so easy, and yet until now I still find it very difficult to get up in the morning. I wonder if it has something to do with me being a heavy sleeper, but then this is still the case even when I complete my 8 hours of sleep.
Seriously though, what motivates me? Nothing seems to excite me enough to get up and start a new day. Everyday is just a routinary set of mundane tasks–work 12-14 hours a day for 5.5 days a week, and then catch up with friends and relax on the remaining 1.5 days. Those 5.5 days of work extremely dries up my energy, and I now feel like I’m living to work, rather than working to live.
No matter where I go, this is the feeling I get. Is something wrong with me, or is this career just not for me? I mean, for my current job, the pay is quite nice and it’s near our house, so what else can I ask for..right..? Well.. I would greatly appreciate even just a tiny bit more free time.
There are a few options available for me: transfer to the bpo industry (most of which is situated in the heart of the metro and would take me at least 2 hours travel time to get there–but the pay is good and the work hours are more forgiving), work abroad (quite risky but I’m feeling adventurous so why not?), or consider a career change (would definitely love a career as a writer or a graphic artist lol). Or maybe, just maybe, stay put in my current job and end my long streak of job hopping?
Whenever one is at a crossroads like this, people say, “God has a purpose why He placed you there.” I hope it gets revealed to me soon.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” –Mark Twain
Avant-Garde Wallflower 