Prologue: Do blogs have prologues? Let’s call it a Problogue.
This is all in the style of a blog, so occasionally I’ll throw in hashtags like #products, mostly because I’m just having a bit of fun. #harrypotter #isharrypotterstillcool - you’ll be the judge of what I find cool.
Have you ever truly been lost? I’m not talking about the annoyance of wandering around a parking lot, pressing your car’s lock button because you can’t remember where you parked. I mean the kind of lost where you don’t know where you’re going, where you’ve been, or where you’re supposed to be. Being lost isn’t about a specific place or time; it’s about knowing where you’re supposed to be and realizing you’re not there—and not knowing how to get there. If you’ve ever felt this way, I’m addressing you as Nomader from now on.
#ohIguess #harrypotterhasnt #beencoolinsometime (But wasn’t there a video game? Oh, it didn’t do well.)
I realized I was lost while sitting at my desk in early May 2024. I was analyzing data, which I’m actually pretty good at. I’m the type who finds fascination in the details. I had just finished an ‘exercise snack’—a concept I used to follow. Yes, an exercise snack; it’s a way to trick your brain into doing squats instead of reaching into the office snack bin. Exercise snacks are perhaps the worst example of how skewed our work/life balance has become. More on that later.
So, there I was, wrapping up my so-called delicious exercise snack, tapping out an email. The recipient, a snarky woman with an unyielding sense of comfort, probably dismissed my message the moment it arrived. It was the epitome of pointless work. David Graeber would have labeled it a ‘bullshit job.’ I wasn’t meant for office life, a realization that’s clear to me now. Nomader, deciding to leave was exhilarating. I was filled with more purpose and energy than I’ve had in a long time. All of the things I have been wanting to do just flooded into my spirit. Like this:
The place I was meant to be was nowhere nearby. I didn’t know where I was, nor where I needed to be in relation to my cubicle, but I knew it would take a long time to find it. It was a Thursday.
I called in sick on Friday. I used to be against using sick days for anything other than actual illness. But in retrospect, I think everyone does it. And now, I believe that despising your job so much that you’d exploit a system meant for genuine sickness just to avoid work is precisely the kind of system worth abusing. So, hey Nomader, go ahead and call in sick today.
Do people actually want to be at work? Sure, some might enjoy their jobs. What about you? If you genuinely enjoy your job, I’m envious. I imagine you do something challenging and fascinating, with work that’s varied and has real, measurable impacts. That’s what I’d enjoy. Or perhaps a job that lets me be sarcastic with the entire world. 🙄
These people in the picture aren't really business folks. They are paid to smile and be happy, and "be" white. In reality they are much cooler than business folks. They are all pursuing acting and modeling jobs.
Good for you #modelpeople.
I spent the weekend figuring out my next steps. Concurrently, my girlfriend and I had a major change of relationship dynamic, which was partly due to my feeling lost—and largely my fault. We were living together, and this significant change became the catalyst for a decision that’s currently transforming my life. That’s all I’ll say about her, as she hasn’t agreed to be a character in this blog.
This story will cover a variety of topics. I plan to discuss the nature of work, travel, relationships, cooking, health, mental health, and more. Not everything will be monetizable, but I’m also writing a book and working part-time. So, you’ll get what you get.
I’m writing this book as a blog, on the go. I intend to do minimal editing post-publication. Keep that in mind as you read on. I want to look back at the end of my journey and see how my thoughts have evolved. But I’ll keep writing as I travel, Nomader What! (And yes, it is called Nomader Wut, someone snagged the domain just for the sake of it. That really sucks.)
My AI editing app has replaced all of my swear words. Duck you AI!
(ahh, duck it.)
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