Have you ever had one of those weekends where things just seem to fall in place and you begin to really appreciate the track you are meant to be on? Well this would be the best way to describe my past weekend.
A friend from Sydney was in town for the weekend, and me being me volunteered to show him around this wonderful city, which has sadly become more of a living hell for me in recent times. First of all, it was really refreshing to take a look at Tokyo again through the eyes of a first-timer... made me really appreciate what a wonderful place it is, and reassure myself that it's just my situation and not my location that's coming down on me heavily of late. Adding to this was the light at the end of the tunnel that he provided through the discussions we had of Sydney, Australia and the alternative career that has featured in my mind prominently for the last 18 months. The circle of light is certainly getting bigger, and this makes everything on the way there that much more achievable. Instead of going into the sites we saw (as you can see a similar story on a previous entry which I have yet to take down) I am going to delve back into what it is that makes us make the choices we do (apologies... I know it is very self-indulgent).
I know I am a very lucky person, and I am very appreciate of that. I work pretty hard, but even all the hard work in the world doesn't guarantee success unless the circumstances are right... and this is where I am so lucky... as my circumstances thus far in life have been mostly very good. Earlier this year something happened at work which resulted in me almost doubling my salary (if you can't work out what, take a look at 'Hong Kong Heat Wave' for a hint. In the 6 months since that happened, the main thing I have realised is that money doesn't make that much of a difference - especially if you have no time to do anything with it. When I reflect on the way I have chartered my career path, I can see that a lot of it has been to do with earning potential... I'm more convinced than ever (and this is not a direct result of this past weekend but more a culmination of many months of confusion) that everyone has a magic limit after which their life is not really changed that much. Obviously the number will be different for everyone based on their individual circumstances and is likely to fluctuate over time. It's very helpful if you can work out what this number is and where it is moving, because it can help you focus your life and career on things much more important than money. In my case for example I am fairly confident I know what I need to earn to have a life that is fulfilling... so now I would be happy to pursue something else which, at least in the short-term, will earn me a lot less but give me the satisfaction I need out of life. But making the jump will be difficult and may take a few years of savings first.
So how did I get onto this idea for a post based on the friend I spent the weekend showing around Tokyo? He's in the career I see myself in... and very patiently took the time to answer any and every question I had. Thanks to him I have such a clear view of where I am eventually headed 5 to 15 years down the track, and this is really helping me deal with where I am at the moment. Life is short and sadly the grass always seems greener doing something that you currently aren't. In my case it definitely is greener... I'm confident the grass I am standing on now is not and will not be as green as where I am going... when I finally get there. So thanks very much to Mike for tying up the loose ends in my train of thought in terms of where I see myself going. Not sure when I will get there or even start on the journey... but I definitely know it is ahead of me and look forward to it a lot.
Ok enough self-indulgence... what I have learned this year is that I need friends to come and visit me for two reasons - firstly, so I can show them a fantastic time in Tokyo that is not as easy to experience when you are alone acting like a contestant in Amazing Race with a bung compass... and secondly because it helps me enjoy the place too. So the rest of you lazy bastards who have yet to visit me... hurry up!! And for the sake of work commitments please discuss amongst yourselves so you can pace your visits out to once every 2 months for the rest of the year :p
Seriously though guys... come up and see this fantastic place... you won't be disappointed.
Good night...
Justin.
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