I’m working today. I know it’s a weekend, but needs must, and it’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future. Life’s like that. Spanners are continually being thrown into works and plans rarely pan out the way they are meant to. I’d much rather be spending the day with my family. Isn’t that what being a loving husband and father is all about? Yet I’m going to be in the office, chipping away at a huge workload.
The silver strand I cling on to is that I’m doing this for the family. Yes, it benefits me personally to clear the decks and hit the ground running come Monday morning. I have a very good job. It’s stimulating and well paid, I’ve worked hard in recent years to reach the position I’ve attained. I thought my days of working weekends were at an end. How wrong I was.
We all face situations in life where we are faced with roles and responsibilities we are not exactly enamoured with. Yet there is no other way round it but roll up our sleeves and get on with it. We all love a short cut but sometimes the long way round is the only way, it’s the shortest cut available to us. We need to suck it up and deal with what is staring us in the face. There is no other way, no Plan B.
Plans can be decimated in the blink of an eye. Years of work undone in a second. You spend countless hours clambering up a slope only to slip and slide to the bottom again. There is nobody to lend a helping hand, no action replay or second chance. You have to start again from square one, rip up the gameplan and grit your teeth. You feel hopeless, frustrated, angry. Why? Why has this happened?
You can cry, you can scream, you can rage to the heavens. Or you can take matters into your own hands, you can weigh up the options and consider what lies within your sphere of influence. You look inwards as opposed to outwards, to unlock skills and knowledge you never knew you possessed. You rise to the occasion and step up to the plate. For you are capable of so much more than you thought.
It’s a whole new ball game and you’re about to have the game of your life. Gone are the days of relying on others and waiting for things to happen. Gone are the days of talking about it, now is the time to grab the thistle and seize the day. Carpe diem. There will be pain, that’s an inevitable by product of the path you’ve taken. But it’s a temporary pain and the rewards far outweigh the discomfort.
Proving the doubters wrong, seeing their faces when that day comes, and it will, when you’re standing at the top of the heap again, staring triumphantly down at the haters and those who said they would never make it. One step at at a time, moment by moment, it will happen if you believe it will happen. Channel the rejection, funnel the pain and transfer it into a positive energy which will fuel your journey.
It’s a grind, a horizon which seems a million miles off, but you’re working your way towards it. The people around you are the right people, you’re convinced of it. You’re secure in that knowledge, the others have fallen by the wayside and it’s as if the shackles have been released. You’re on your way, I’m on my way. So I’m going to work and work hard to realise the dreams of my loved ones. You can watch me soar and turn away. The choice is yours. My path is set.
Will you join me on my journey? For together we are strong.
Black Thoughts 
Very inspiring. Still learning not to be so damn pessimistic, and this gives me hope.
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Thank you. I’m, by nature, a pessimist as well but I’m working on that. I’m glad the post provided you with some hope. I’ve found my writing helps with my mental health. It’s liberating.
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It is a bit of a shame that we feel like working the weekend is the only way to keep up with the demands of our jobs. It certainly does feel good to tidy up loose ends and focus on projects at hand. The lack of interruption helps me be more productive, but makes me wonder why I can’t do the same during the week.
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The office is quieter at the weekend. I get so much more done. People are a distraction lol.
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Count me in!
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Great 👍🏻
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I used to manage a finance team and I would work weekends to get caught up etc. I did this for about 3 years, I made more money in that span of time then at any point in my career. I also was ground down to a nub mentally, my marriage suffered kids were oblivious. I get it, but I wont do it again. I wish you all the best, perhaps you can work out something the company where you can work remotely?
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Thank you. I’m glad you are in a better place now 🙂
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One foot (or thought) in front of the other.
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There’s no other way 😊
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I’m with you 😉
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Thank you. I’m glad to hear that.
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Exactly why I spent my weekend studying. I can move forward, and yes, give up the more enjoyable pieces of life (for now) or I can earn some great benefits later.
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Good for you Liz. Keep going 😮
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It’s an interesting question. If it’s all about following your passion then yes. We know this new position is not your passion and writing is your passion. If it’s about needing to pay the bills and provide for your family – yes. It seemed like the old position though took care of that and this might be something else? You mentioned…Proving the doubters wrong, seeing their faces when that day comes, and it will, when you’re standing at the top of the heap again, staring triumphantly down at the haters and those who said they would never make it. I question that piece and if that’s your motivation I say no. It’s never worth sacrificing your life and your families for what others think. I believe you discovered that in the run club, church club, and now there’s this? You have already made it Stephen. You are at the top! You are here right now and are completely loved. You will never get this time back with the kiddos or wife. We think we need to make more money for the family and how better it could be when really it’s the best it can be NOW. I apologize if I’ve read to much into this and obviously this is my slant from my past experiences.
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Thank you Dwight. I really appreciate your caring words. They have greatly encouraged me.
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Yes…day by day, we get things accomplished. I try not to get bogged down looking too far ahead, just be content in the work done each day. Including Saturdays! 😊
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It’s non stop when the kids are the age of ours.
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Amazing Steven! I’ll certainly join you! I’d love to! Life is all about working hard, and going somewhere! xoxo
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Thank you Carol Anne. You are more than welcome.
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