To be or not to be?

I recently came across an article from Forbes.com - a list of the “Happiest” and “Most Hated” jobs. The happiest jobs included clergymen, firemen, writers, sculptors & painters, teachers, etc. These careers don’t really make a lot of money, but the people in these jobs have been known to be the happiest. Most probably because of the altruistic nature of the job that gives it meaning in the life for these people. For artists, being able to express their talents is enough to make them happy even though it doesn’t really bring home the bacon. On the other hand, the hatest jobs are the exact opposite. The ones with marketing, managers, and all those top level highfalutin sounding positions. Even though they make a lot more money, they don’t really see their jobs serving a bigger purpose.

I don’t know if it’s true since the internet never lies. But I’ll be damned if it is. My college degree was aimed at… Can you guess? …the positions described as the “most hated” jobs. Well, there is a saving grace, I somehow consider myself an artist and if I work hard on it - who knows?

But maybe that article was more appropriate for the modern nations. In a developing country, how much you make IS everything. As I was taught, you have to be practical and might as well kiss your passions and dreams buh-bye. If I went to my parents right now and told them I would make my career as an artist, they’d probably put me through a medieval form of punishment. I’m kidding, my parents aren’t sadists, but they would definitely be disappointed. I’d probably hear about the “you didn’t go to private schools just to paint and draw” - kind of tacky soap opera one liners with matching long pauses.

With a lot of pressure weighing on me, I have to decide sooner or later. At one point over the past few months, I’ve somehow reached the decision to the career I was going to put my life on - and was, of course, quite excited about it since I knew that it was what I wanted to do. Only to find out that the people you really need the support from don’t really share the same view as yours. Instead of a good pat on the back egging me on, it felt like I was getting a pair of supporters that had been left in the hamper for two months(I know, this is a really bad metaphor). So what have I decided? MONEHHH!!!! Because I’m shallow and I really need it. And when I have an excess of it, I’ll then buy a yacht and live in Greece. That’s the life bebeh!!! Besides, it’s easier to feign happiness, right?!?!…Right?! Right?

But putting aside some sad-attempts-at-being-sarcastic, being happy really depends on whether or not you find deeper meaning in what you do. If you see the bigger picture behind it. If it gets you to jump out of the bed in the morning. If it makes you a better person.

P.S. It’s really hard to write a blog from your phone.