When I was still working for Gillette, I have been trained that for every contract there must be an escape clause. This is to ensure that for any unforeseen circumstances where both parties have to separate, there is always a ready platform for discussion. Since then, there is always escape clause in everything I do, no matter how sweet the deal could be. So far so good.
Now, that was work I'm talking about. But what about life? A contract where there is no resignation because any resignation simply means death. So, if life is a contract, what do we do? Do we have an escape clause and do we have an escape route?
The activities that we do in life should have an escape clause in my opinion. For example, for career, this is the job I am willing to do for this price and in the event I want to terminate this job, this or that will happen in my life. We should know the cost of parting way. We also need to have an escape route, something that we plan to escape from the things we don't like.
Take stock of your life's main activities. What are the 3 important things that you are doing in your life? Job, marriage and health may be? If one day you don't feel like doing it any more, is there an escape clause? If of the 3 important things you are doing and 1 sucks, do you have an escape route or plan? Difficult? Definitely. But again, if a prisoner can escape from the most tightly guarded prison called Alcatraz, everything else is possible. If you need inspiration, go check out some old movies I find useful such as Escape from Alcatraz (Clint Eastwood), Shawshank redemption (Morgan Freedman), Great Escape (Pele), you start to realize David Copperfield only makes things disappear in front of your eyes, but these guys make themselves disappear forever.
Some food for thoughts:
'I don't mind today ends up lousy. I do mind tomorrow ending up like today'
Escaping now to a better-than-writing activity called dreamland, I wish you all the best in your great escape.
8 comments:
Well Kua, i think ESCAPE is not an easy word and i never want to think about it.
Again, things come in good and bad, so we choose and we take it. Should we escape?
Sometimes we just escape emotionally, but physically the problem is still there. So what is escape?
Instead of ESCAPE, i like to use the word AVOID. Escape is you want to disappear from something and think of other alternatives. But AVOID is you are still facing the problem, but you avoid the bad, reduce the damage and go for better option.
ESCAPE is only when you fear, but AVOID is when you are wise, right?
Thanks for comments. Perhaps it was the terminology that give rise to different popinions.
'Escape' in the article simply means that we can be unhappy with what we are doing including work or relationship. We can accept the current situation, we can try to avoid some of it, but in the longer run, do we have a plan to GET OUT of it i.e. to end it? If we have, then that's an 'escape plan.'
Kua
I think i understand what you meant now. In fact, ESCAPE is very often on my mind now. It's about Job and Relationship.
1) I have a job with a lousy boss which makes me feel like I want to quit the job, but i am not sure about the future. You think should i escape from it?
2) I have a marriage, not many fights, but just no more passion. I am not agree most of my hubby's idea towards something, but i HAVE TO be contented with it. You think should i escape also?
For point 1, it's important to list down the factors why you are not happy at work. Then remove all the points that are related to others e.g. too much work, boss is crazy (external factors) and then see what is left in your list. This will be the internal factors. This is the area you need to focus on because 'by changing oneself, one changes the world'. If there is none, you need to think of some internal factors coz we cannot be that perfect :) If, once by changing these factors, it will not overcome the problems at work, then you need an escape plan and it starts with the 1st most important question, "When?"
As for point 2, it requires both parties to put in passion including sex. That's why there are so many festivals in the world such as valentine's, father's day to break the mundane lifestyle occasionally. The other point is to do a stock take of what values (not interest) both of you share in common. The more the sharing, the more positive interaction you will get. But if all have been done and looks like it;s going separate ways, then you are at the cross road of happiness. We can chat later on this.
Thank you very much for giving me some ideas and make me think. I appreciate them very much and will figure out what is in my mind and what is my decision then.
Please share more if anything else you think i should know and think over. Good to have someone like SOULMATE who can share things like these which we seldom tell others. Somewhat there are things we choose to tell a STRANGER in life, surprise right? :)
Dear Happy,
Glad to know that I can help a bit. Your questions and comments are putting are important because then I can put my articles 'into practice' and only then can we know if my articles still hold true :)
Kua
Btw, it is easier to talk to a stranger especially through a non-personal media because this is the time when the subconscious mind (inner voice) can be the loudest coz her 'big brother' (the conscious mind) is caught off-guard. :)
Agree, and i think we should keep on this STRANGER talk :)
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