My favorite show is The 100, an American post-apocalyptic sci-fi series by Jason Rothenberg. Underneath all the fightings, there are lessons on how tough leadership is and life is meant for more than just surviving.
Lexa: I know how hard that is for you. You think our ways are harsh, but that’s how we survive.
Clarke: Maybe life should be about more than just surviving. Don’t we deserve better than that?
When I heard that, I was like… wow, that hits right in the chest. And I think about it all the time.
I’ve faced difficult situations that force me to choose between the easy choice to survive or the riskier option that can ultimately make me happier. I’d always choose the latter.
Between staying in a toxic work environment that gave me financial stability and leaving to be a full-time Medium writer, I chose the riskier choice of working on my own. Even though I knew the road to becoming a full-time Medium writer would not be easy, I chose it anyway.
In the long run, I knew this can allow me to live my life to the fullest.
-
- To have a flexible schedule
- Not being tied to one office
- Not face with ‘office politics’
- Allow me to write about what I want to write about
All in all, this choice that many wouldn’t recommend doing is the one that will make me happier. Success is no longer about being in a Unicorn startup company or the “next Facebook”. Success, to me, is when I’m able to make a living doing what I love and still have the time to spend with my loved ones.
This isn’t a call for you to leave your job.
I chose the ‘not recommended’ option. If you’re unhappy with your work, don’t just leave. It took me months of internally debating with myself on whether I’m making a rash decision.
Never quit on a good day
Coincidentally, I saw this video last year when I thought about leaving. So, instead of writing my resignation letter, I focused on making things better in the company. Fast forward to January 2019, even on a good day, I knew that staying would not be the right choice for me. That’s when I decided it’s time to leave.
To Survive Or To Live? Choose To Live.
We have this one life and in this life, time is passing by so fast. I’m 23 this year and graduation seem like it was just last year. It has been 3 years since I left school. It’s crazy. With a blink of an eye, we’re 3 years into the future. Another blink and another 5 years have passed.
“If you get to the end of your life with no regrets at all, you probably haven’t lived that interesting a life,” Karl Pillemer told TODAY.
It doesn’t matter if you’re 30, 40, 50 or even 80. Just remember to start living your life. How can you start living?
-
- Travel & see the world
- Write that book you wanted
- Execute the business idea you had
- Build your own dream house
Spend your time with your family & friends.
There are so many ways but just start by doing something you love. As long as it doesn’t hurt or discriminate anyone, go do it.
Start living.
—
Originally Published on Medium
—