Work to live
With the Euro always on a fresh high (appears to be a weekly thing now) against the weak US Dollar, and wild speculations seeping through the market that the €uro will reach to an imminent $1.50 exchange, I am on the brink of temptation to book a flight to SFO and LAS! Like, I will be totally reckless. Drop whatever I am doing, and succumb to my spending urges, quest for travel, and ultimate relaxation. Woohoo, a 2-week holiday in the US. It will be cheap for me there ;-)
Anyway, the other day, I started checking flights online, Amsterdam - San Francisco - Las Vegas - Amsterdam and they came out between €450 and €600 in December. Not sure if that is a reasonable price but nevertheless San Francisco and Las Vegas will for sure be warmer and sunnier than Holland. A much better place to be.
However, *pulling myself back to reality*, my big problem right now is ‘Time’, which is not a surprise really.
Closing the year is not always, and never has been, an easy walk in the park. Hormones are flying up in the air – although I have always thought mine were a clandestine testosterone operation. Well, this is not about the high adrenalin pump. Stress levels go up, and they come in different flavors and variations, and from different, sometimes confusing, directions - with an ‘s’. I can’t just easily take time off.
Even the romantic weekend castle getaway in France for our 7 years anniversary will have to take a backseat as the equally busy Dutchman is traveling every week, and stuck with loads of work up to his neck, he is having difficulty breathing.
Sigh. I/we really need a long vacation, sooo bad.
Speaking of stress, personally, I think I have a high level of stress tolerance. Might be a gift, but I have the ability to switch (on and) off and shield myself from pressure. I don’t bring work-related stress at home, I don’t take things personally - life is too short, I am not easily offended, I don’t kiss ass, I am straightforward, I am not emotional, and most importantly, I leave work at work. My laptop at work is left under my drawer, well, not all the time but most of the times.
Additionally, I dearly subscribe to the so-called ‘lazy’ and ‘selfish’ European mentality and lifestyle, which as a matter of fact many foreigners contemptibly point out as amazingly [insert any negative adjective you fancy here] work ethic, but oftentimes leave them bewildered and wanting for more, lol – WORK TO LIVE. The irony lives!
If I find myself with millions of Euros (Dutchman please hurry win the lotto, do you hear me?), I would be happy and content to retire at this age. I know exactly what to do: Do nothing.
There was a recent survey carried out here in the Netherlands about happiness that I chanced upon. That people who are retired are happier than when they were working.
Hmm, that’s a kilo of wisdom in there.
Next week I will be somewhere nice and vibrant for work and I will try to catch some rest and relaxation in between, perhaps indulge in a nature trip or a lovely spa to royally pamper me.
Anyway, the other day, I started checking flights online, Amsterdam - San Francisco - Las Vegas - Amsterdam and they came out between €450 and €600 in December. Not sure if that is a reasonable price but nevertheless San Francisco and Las Vegas will for sure be warmer and sunnier than Holland. A much better place to be.
However, *pulling myself back to reality*, my big problem right now is ‘Time’, which is not a surprise really.
Closing the year is not always, and never has been, an easy walk in the park. Hormones are flying up in the air – although I have always thought mine were a clandestine testosterone operation. Well, this is not about the high adrenalin pump. Stress levels go up, and they come in different flavors and variations, and from different, sometimes confusing, directions - with an ‘s’. I can’t just easily take time off.
Even the romantic weekend castle getaway in France for our 7 years anniversary will have to take a backseat as the equally busy Dutchman is traveling every week, and stuck with loads of work up to his neck, he is having difficulty breathing.
Sigh. I/we really need a long vacation, sooo bad.
Speaking of stress, personally, I think I have a high level of stress tolerance. Might be a gift, but I have the ability to switch (on and) off and shield myself from pressure. I don’t bring work-related stress at home, I don’t take things personally - life is too short, I am not easily offended, I don’t kiss ass, I am straightforward, I am not emotional, and most importantly, I leave work at work. My laptop at work is left under my drawer, well, not all the time but most of the times.
Additionally, I dearly subscribe to the so-called ‘lazy’ and ‘selfish’ European mentality and lifestyle, which as a matter of fact many foreigners contemptibly point out as amazingly [insert any negative adjective you fancy here] work ethic, but oftentimes leave them bewildered and wanting for more, lol – WORK TO LIVE. The irony lives!
If I find myself with millions of Euros (Dutchman please hurry win the lotto, do you hear me?), I would be happy and content to retire at this age. I know exactly what to do: Do nothing.
There was a recent survey carried out here in the Netherlands about happiness that I chanced upon. That people who are retired are happier than when they were working.
Hmm, that’s a kilo of wisdom in there.
Next week I will be somewhere nice and vibrant for work and I will try to catch some rest and relaxation in between, perhaps indulge in a nature trip or a lovely spa to royally pamper me.
