For What?

Remember this is all fake…

John wakes up every work at 5AM, his alarm clock takes a morning beating because it is clear that John does not want to be awake right now. He fires up his coffee maker and fills a mug. To go. John runs downstairs from his 7th floor apartment and down yet another set of stairs into the subway. 2 minutes To Go. This is the everyday Monday-Friday hell that John has subscribed to. For what?

The story is never the same because everyone has different circumstances. For untold millions of people the reality is the same — work a job, perhaps even a career but rarely is the question truly asked — for what? So you can buy something you don’t really need? So you can live the life you want? Sometimes the reason is everything you need to endure the suffering but sometimes there is no reason.

If Jefferson’s yeoman farmer nation had come to fruition your entire work would go into your family, your kitchen table, your home. You would certainly become more of a man by doing the physical labor. And those who could not would not survive. This is an ideal world for some but it’s important to remember the advances of capitalism and economic development. In essence — this life where we work meaningless jobs is for our benefit. We can feed ourselves, shelter ourselves, and have much much more than a yeoman farmer.

For What? The conclusion of this piece is to rehash the importance of asking the question. While we work to provide basic needs and some additional comforts, it’s important not to lose sight of what we do want. Remove yourself from the paradigm of working and concentrate on the career you want so that you can maximize your output professionally. Maximize your free time to build yourself into the person you need to be. You won’t always feel trapped because this life is temporary. This is training for the next big move you’ll make. Eventually you’ll find the way out of the commoners collective.

-Dragon