Just 40 mins drive away from the rock, you can find a quite little town called Castellar de la Frontera. It’s not a bad place to live in if you have a family with kids and dogs, or a horse for some people. It’s not hard to tell that’s the kind of neighbourhood where parents feel safe enough to have their children running around without supervision.

Make a stop here for some nice lunch before making your way up to Castillo de Castellar. El Bodegón is highly recommended. With artistic interior, they serve food that is well prepared, nutritiously balanced and unpretentious.

To get to the castle from the this town is only another 20 mins drive. You will drive through a little forest where you can let oxygen fill up your lungs for free. Then the windy mountain road will lead you up to the top where you can the whole region in green under your feet.

To me this castle is more of a viewpoint than a historical attraction, somewhere to escape from the city noise, the crowd, the speed. Even sun beam seems to slow down here, just motionlessly rest on the surface of the lake, confusing people’s glance.

You see it feels good to spend some time in such tranquility. But I couldn’t stop wondering how long can one really enjoy it for?

Often times, it’s the things we complain about the most that we will miss the most. Another life’s little sarcasm.

Modern days, the dependency on constant entertainment has been spreading like a rash among city lives. It must take a soul so rich and secure on its own to not miss the eventfulness of a city. We no longer need to hunt for meat but archery is still in the Olympics. So maybe we should keep our skills on enjoying the minimum even when technology says we don’t have to.

Recently some personal experience and discussions from colleagues have inspired me to give this subject some thoughts. We hear and see people who we deem to be more competent falling behind the career marathon. We feel sympathetic, wonder how is it so ‘unfair’. Very often it has to do with the below factors.

1. Timing

They say it takes a little luck to be at the right place at the right time. But if you have been preparing yourself, have been ready, every moment is the right time. There’s a way to beat timing if you think ahead of time.

2. Personal relationships in the workplace

Although in a professional environment, personal relationships should not influence any decision making, it is not against the law to use it in your favour. I said ‘use’, not ‘abuse’. No boss would bring close or promote any employee he/she doesn’t feel comfortable to be around with. Because by doing that, in a way, will affect workplace efficiency. So instead of being stingy with your greetings, do be welcoming. Although, don’t go overboard and be a suck-up.

3. Value mismatch

By that I mean when you think you have the right values that’s needed for a certain position but management turns out to be looking for other qualities. Well, what can I say. Until the day you make the rules, you don’t decide what’s right for a position not designed by you. After all, it’s also the ‘rule makers’ who will have to take the blame if misjudged. Believe there’s a reason behind it.

Psychology has proven that human beings tend to think things happen for a reason in order to provide ourselves certain security. Maybe. When comparing with the ‘successors’, which would benefit you permanently? Is it to focus on what qualities you have that they don’t (which is human nature instinct), or what they have that you don’t? Is it more important to feel better or to be better?