The Rat Race
During my 10 years living and working in London, I used to be one of these people that you meet at a party who almost immediately asks “So, what do you do?” when meeting a new person. It’s one of the effects of the rat race, which means you start to judge yourself and others depending on their external assets and belongings.
In the rat race you don’t waste any time, hence the question: what do you do? And the quick follow up: where do you live? Once you know what a person does to pay for their life and where, you can decide if it’s a waste of time to carry on the conversation with someone or not.
Men and women ask this question it in the dating scene too: It’s a quick way to make a picture of what sort of lifestyle you’d have with the person in front of you after visualizing his or hers financial assets, properties and travelling habits.
Believe me, people who are deep into the rat race will let you know the above information very quickly when you hold a first time conversation with them. You probably don’t even have to ask, since they have a strong need to identify with their material belongings and work titles. It’s a loud and proud way to say: Hey! Look at what I’ve got - this is who I am!
The sad truth is, usually they have no idea who they are, or what makes them truly happy, not in the long run.
The successful rat race people that I’ve met – the ones with the glorious titles, high salaries, bonuses and fancy street names, or striving to achieve these things – are rarely compassionate, patient, warm and caring people at any consistent period of time. Most of the time they are self-centred and rarely content or at peace. Few have empathy and the ability to understand others – there’s simply no time, or any self-awareness.
It can be very draining and stressful to be in the rat race, or have a relationship with someone constantly on the run.
People in the rat race always want more, especially glory and money, but there is never a limit to having “more”. In their hunt for more, they start to loose themselves and start to identify with what they have or do and eventually, at some point in their lives – they become empty and lonely.
Personally, I started to lack motivation and inspiration and without going into details, I needed to heal. I moved to Sweden to get back to my roots, to get close to family and friends and figure out who I truly am and what makes me smile.
After putting myself up in a flat in Stockholm and filling my time with karate, meditation, lots of books and alternative therapy for six months, I went travelling for the other half of the year. I nearly lost my life to the mountains in Peru and I found simple beauty and honesty in Brazil, then I joined the Swedish Armed Forces in Enköping. That’s where this blog start.
In the rat race you don’t waste any time, hence the question: what do you do? And the quick follow up: where do you live? Once you know what a person does to pay for their life and where, you can decide if it’s a waste of time to carry on the conversation with someone or not.
Men and women ask this question it in the dating scene too: It’s a quick way to make a picture of what sort of lifestyle you’d have with the person in front of you after visualizing his or hers financial assets, properties and travelling habits.
Believe me, people who are deep into the rat race will let you know the above information very quickly when you hold a first time conversation with them. You probably don’t even have to ask, since they have a strong need to identify with their material belongings and work titles. It’s a loud and proud way to say: Hey! Look at what I’ve got - this is who I am!
The sad truth is, usually they have no idea who they are, or what makes them truly happy, not in the long run.
The successful rat race people that I’ve met – the ones with the glorious titles, high salaries, bonuses and fancy street names, or striving to achieve these things – are rarely compassionate, patient, warm and caring people at any consistent period of time. Most of the time they are self-centred and rarely content or at peace. Few have empathy and the ability to understand others – there’s simply no time, or any self-awareness.
It can be very draining and stressful to be in the rat race, or have a relationship with someone constantly on the run.
People in the rat race always want more, especially glory and money, but there is never a limit to having “more”. In their hunt for more, they start to loose themselves and start to identify with what they have or do and eventually, at some point in their lives – they become empty and lonely.
Personally, I started to lack motivation and inspiration and without going into details, I needed to heal. I moved to Sweden to get back to my roots, to get close to family and friends and figure out who I truly am and what makes me smile.
After putting myself up in a flat in Stockholm and filling my time with karate, meditation, lots of books and alternative therapy for six months, I went travelling for the other half of the year. I nearly lost my life to the mountains in Peru and I found simple beauty and honesty in Brazil, then I joined the Swedish Armed Forces in Enköping. That’s where this blog start.
