It feels like yesterday when I dreamt to be where I am today. Almost a decade ago, my routine was just to commute everyday from home to university and vice versa, walked through the corridors of a 6th floor building for the last class at 7:30pm, and daydreaming of rushing through college to graduate and eventually land a job to earn money, buy the things I want, climb through the corporate ladder, get married and have kids, reach the retirement age, and enjoy life until we reach the departure area of death.

Growing up in an environment where my parents and elder relatives were born in the Baby Boomer Generation, they’ve instilled to me that those steps are the way we should live our lives. I will be successful when I will be following the narrative they handed down to me ever since I started to decide what career should I choose.

Everything was about having a stable job, working at a fancy airconditioned office, and earning an income by working an 8-5 job. Indeed, I somehow achieved these things. Yet, I felt that there is a sense of calling inside my heart that this path is not meant for everyone, especially in my case.

If I were given the chance to choose the career I wanted after graduating in high school, I wanted to become a Registered Nutritionist and Dietitian or pursue a course that would allow me to proceed to Medical School one day. However, my parents insisted that this kind of career is not income-generating as one would just work in a hospital day-in and day-out unlike in an office where one is stable, as they said. At the same time, I know that they cannot afford to send me to medical school.

Yet in my mind, I was determined to find other ways to make that dream a reality like applying for a scholarship. To cut the story short, I ended up pursuing a degree in accountancy, but ended up finishing a degree in finance. Though I did not fail, I shifted to another course after 2 years as an accountancy student since cannot keep up with the academic demands of the former course. Despite that, I was still able to finish college within 4 years.

Shortly after graduation, I landed a job at a known universal private bank in the Philippines. I stayed at the job for 5 years with a rank-and-file position and left after I obtained my MBA degree with the same university where I finished my college.

I was grateful for that company and the management as I felt valued having a work-life balance. I still have the time to pursue the things I’m passionate about which cannot be equated monetarily and at the same time, study for my post-grad degree while working.

I then transferred to another bank and became a bank officer. I stayed for that position for more than a year until I resigned and left the office 2 weeks ago. It was a total of 6 years toiling myself in a corporate job.

At first, I was happy that I am able to have earn money twice a month from my salary. Through time that I was able to earn more, more of my time was also expected from me in my work as a bank officer. I woke-up early in the morning, prepare myself, ride for a 30 minute commute going to the office, work for more or less 10-12 hours a day, go home for an hour or more of commute, settle myself at home, sleep, then repeat this from Mondays to Fridays.

I felt like a robot and my soul was tired and yearning for more than just staring at a computer screen whole day. At the same time, my mind and body aches for rest but I can’t do it since I was tied up with the company’s system.

I wanted to free myself from the chains of other people’s demands and expectations and go out from being imprisoned within the 4 white corners of the office.

My mother, who is alone at home all day, is now aging and I felt that I haven’t spent much time with her as I was solely focused on working. What I regret after my father passed away was not spending enough time with him while he was still alive. I don’t want to have that kind of regret again.

After a long time of contemplation and reflection, I cannot anymore go further in this kind of system since my mental and physical health were deteriorating. So, I decided to take the leap of faith to leave the place that does not anymore serve my purpose and values in life.

That decision of mine was odd since I left my corporate job without any work waiting ahead of me. Others would surely say that I should’ve resigned by the time another work was waiting for me. Yet, in my mind, I believe that another corporate work are all alike. Moreover, I believe pursuing what one wants in life is a privilege since not everyone have the choice to do it especially those who have financial responsibilities. With deep consideration and preparation, I have already equipped myself for the transition of a new life waiting for me.

More than a quarter of century’s experiences in life, lessons, challenges, and with people helped me discover who I truly am and what I really wanted in my life that still has remaining decades ahead of me to discover.

I don’t want to live in a competitive race that doesn’t get me anywhere. I don’t want to enjoy my life only after retirement age where my knees and hips are already aching and when I don’t anymore have the energy to do the things I want.

I decided to stop chasing material wealth and instead, value what matters most in life. I chose to be selective of my energy and time in order to direct myself in creating the life I wanted to live which is to live simply and intentionally.

By the time I reach the age of 80, in His time, I don’t want to look back and regret the things I should’ve done just because I am imprisoned of other people’s opinions.

Hence, I won’t anymore allow others to hold me back on what I truly want in life. We are just a small dust in this vast universe and with only 7 weeks remaining until 2022 ends, time is so fast and life is so short not to do the things that brings joy to our souls.

For me, I believe that is the meaning and purpose of my life.