I still remember the day I first arrived, came off the plane on a wheelchair because of the surgery I just had. The elderly man who helped us with our luggage from the conveyor belt to the taxi stand, he stood there hinting for a tip, only a moment ago he said his assistance was part of the airport service. Nothing is entirely free in this world I guess.
“Part of the airport service, no need to pay…”
From literally being on crutches on the first day of work, to accepting my near decade long prior work experience counts almost for nothing, to the realisation of the pace at which I am expected to operate, to the steep learning curve, to meeting people and making friends, to the promotion and reward (and the immense stress which came with it), to gaining almost 20kg (45lbs) in weight and losing it (with much effort), 8 years came and go like a flash.
It was then time to bid farewell.
Leaving was not easy. As humans, we are resistant to change. However, I have been away from my family for too long. I have missed too much of my daughter’s childhood years.
How much worth would I gain from my career if the price to pay is to give up on building childhood memories with my daughter. As the saying goes “they grew up too fast”, and we all should never miss that.
Thus my time in the corporate world ended, and a new life began.
At the back of my mind, the plan was to spend 6 months just bonding my with little angel and nothing else. Thereafter, my scouting for a new job would begin and hopefully, I will be able to land a pretty good job in this new foreign land and life would take its intended step forward. The 6-month plan worked immaculately, the “landing a job” part, not quite.
6 months became a year. A year became 2. Where did all the time go as one would ask…
“Wow, you must be very free!”
I often get that comment. The world that we live in now tends to conclude that if you no longer need to devote a specific time duration of your day towards a specific income generating activity, then you must be very free. Any full time mothers would strongly disagree with that notion, but that is a story for another day.
Having not to work gives you a lot of free time, but it does not equate to you being free. It is what you do during these free times that will determine whether you are free or otherwise.
The free time has allowed me to literally slow down and smell the roses. I did not stop there, I also smell the lilies, the jasmine, the rosemary and heck, I even planted some thyme, metaphorically speaking. Actually, the thyme bit is true, planted chilies and scallion too. I have also managed to read quite a few books, did some volunteer work, pick up some new skills, and improve on my cooking. Did I mention I learned to solve the rubik’s cube too?
As time goes by, I realised that it is not just the scent of the roses that we have all been missing. When time truly permits you to slow down and smell the roses, you will also be able to see the beautiful butterflies which flew by, the tireless bee gathering nectar from the roses, the beautiful sunshine that gives life to the roses, and of course, the pouring rain needed to water them. As you take time to look further, one will also notice how sharp the thorns on a rose plant are, and the manner in which you smell the roses matters, lest you would like to feel the thorns too.
Taking away the metaphors, these 2 years have allowed me to really ponder, reflect, observe and learn more about this phenomenon called life. There are many things that I have discovered during these 2 years, some of them are reiterations of things common to us all, while some things are truly eye openers.
Reading has really taken off in my realm of interest, but rekindling my love for writing is what intrigues me at this moment. On this note, I hope to maintain a degree of consistency in this story telling journey. After all, I am quite free… I mean, I have quite a bit of free time.
