I've just read Ernesto 'Che' Guevara's book, The Motorcycle Diaries, and a line from it really got me thinking: "Some give the impression they go on living only because it's a habit they cannot shake."
It got me thinking about life in general and my life in particular. As sporadically chronicled here, I am attempting to improve my health by running, cycling and, more recently, doing Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing). I have also stopped drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, started drinking a lot more water and am trying to make general improvements to my overall diet. Next, I want to make some changes in my work situation so that I can spend more time with my family. I don't want to simply stumble through life anymore trapped in circumstances that I am not happy in (my job). To that end, I continue to study (law, linguistics and Japanese) and I am taking certain other steps to hopefully effect some substantial changes by the end of this year/the beginning of next year.
Basically, I want my family to be happy and content, and a big part of this is making myself happy and content. I'm not unhappy – far from it – my family is wonderful, I have a nice house and a reasonably well-paid job. I shouldn't complain? Possibly, but you only get one crack at this life (as far as I know) so why spend most of it in a job or circumstances that you don't like? My brother-in-law is suffering from depression brought on by overwork and my father-in-law is recovering from cancer, a strong contributing factor being the stress of his job (I should, however, point out that my father-in-law loves his job).
How many of us go about our daily routine without really thinking about it? Are we living out of habit? Have we become more domesticated than the animals we keep as pets? There is much more to life than getting up, going to work, going home and going to bed. I have always thought so, but I have found myself falling into this 'safe' little routine. One of the many, many wonderful things that I have learnt since becoming a father is that there is wonder in everything and that one should never just blindly accept things. Another major thing I have learnt is that things change quickly. The trick is being able to change with them.
