Unambitious thoughts

I read an interesting article by Lucy Kellaway today entitled "Quitting a high-power job to become a receptionist".

The article talks of the writer's friend, a bright, witty and sophisticated lady who has held a succession of powerful jobs in television and newspapers for about 20 years. Being on the cusp of 50, this woman applied to be a receptionist in a small office building in London. The friend subsequently told the writer that this was first time in her life she was entirely happy in her job. Her reasons were as follows:

Her routine was soothing. The people were friendly. The work was pleasant. It was also finite, easy to do well, and ended on the dot of 6pm.

There were no unmanageable work loads, no ugly competition, no gnawing anxiety that you aren't up to it and that someone else is better.

But best of all, the receptionist's job didn't swamp her mind and her life; instead it left her plenty of room for her to think her own thoughts.

The writer reflected on her friend's situation and was impressed about how her friend's satisfaction contrasted with the dissatisfaction of almost all her other contemporaries. I found her following words especially meaningful:

When I was in my 20s I didn't feel that I was deciding rationally between hundreds of possibilities. I was simply trying to do what I thought was expected of me, and what my friends were doing. My motivation was to do it better than a tiny handful of people I considered to be my rivals.

Now that I think of it, I have stopped caring about these petty contests. I am doing better than some of my former competitiors and worse than others, but either way it doesn't matter any more.

This is liberating. I am starting to mind less what other people think of me and that is liberating too.

I can relate whole-heartedly to the writer's musings. She has managed to express in words exactly how I've been feeling about my work life for the past year. Ludicrous as it may sound, I have contemplated quitting my job to be a typist or to work in a coffee joint / bookstore, but I know I just can't do it now, not when I'm still in my 20s. I feel dissatisfied, miserable at allowing myself to be dragged into the rat race that I do not even wish to be involved in.

Of course, the friend's situation is very different from mine. She has achieved a large degree of success in her earlier years, which makes a lesser job in her later years more deserving. I, on the other hand, have yet to achieve anything that's even remotely remarkable. Should I even be entitled to such unambitious thoughts at this juncture?

Probably not. Crap, looks like I'm going to be stuck in the rut for another 20 years or so.