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Writer's pictureSamuel Tay

Hitting the Pause Button

Over the last few years, the fact that time is our only non-renewable resource struck me on many occasions. Money that is lost can be earned back in several ways; energy when drained can be replenished after a good night's sleep, and to a certain extent health can be restored with proper care and medication if we assume that it has not deteriorated to a point of no return. Time however, beats on relentlessly with its own rhythm, second by second, minute by minute. Once a moment passes, we can never go back to that exact same moment. Once time is spent, it is lost forever. That is a really humbling thought, and is a good reminder for us to cherish and appreciate this finite and dwindling resource called time.


For those who remember, I shared the story of how I left my first job some years back, together with the emotions and thoughts running through my mind back then. Fast forward five years, and I have chosen to stand at the crossroads once again. 2 days ago, this decision was publicly announced to all my colleagues together with the other upcoming staff movement. Interestingly, it caused quite a stir, perhaps due to the ambiguous reason given for my departure. Afterwards, when colleagues heard that my plan was to take a break, there were many interesting responses, with many asking about what was going to happen after the break. Some were openly surprised when I told them there was no concrete plan yet, while others embraced the uncertainty more readily.


Personally, I am keenly aware that as time continues to pass me by, it would be better to make this decision sooner rather than later. One of the main reasons to stay was the stable paycheck, but I felt that my personal growth had already stagnated for quite some time. Status quo will feel safe, but we only get one shot at life. Where will rocking the boat lead me to? I have no answer now but I know that once my time from a full-time job is freed up, so many possibilities can materialise. Beyond traveling and meeting new people, I can experiment with my passion project to see whether it takes off, or go volunteer during working hours for a cause I am keen to support. Perhaps I could try creating something and see if I could actually sell it, or simply just visit the gym during off-peak hours and enjoy the silence and solitude.


I'm not going to deny it - the uncertainty still scares me even though it is my second time doing this. I will only be able to tell whether this decision is courageous or foolish when I look back in a few years' time. Like Steve Jobs famously said:


You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

As I prepare to embark on my sabbatical next year, my focus will be on making intentional connections with my colleagues, some of whom have become dear friends. At the end of the day, I realise that it is still the meaningful relationships we form which adds purpose and meaning to our lives, and I intend to hold on to that tightly and strengthen it over time.



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