She didn’t need to climb the corporate ladder at the cost of her soul
Sarah woke with a start, the dream still vivid in her mind. She saw herself decades from now, alone in a big empty house, surrounded by possessions and achievements but feeling utterly unfulfilled. As the morning sun rose, she knew she needed to make a change before it was too late. Rather than rushing off to her high-pressure job as usual, Sarah took some time to reflect. She thought about her passions from childhood, back when life seemed full of promise and opportunity. Art and nature had always brought her joy, yet here she was working endless hours in a career that drained her creativity and disconnecting her from the world around her.
As she watched the sunrise through the trees in her backyard, an epiphany came over Sarah. This brief moment of beauty was a reminder of why she had come into this world – not simply to accumulate wealth and status, but to express herself and make meaningful contributions however she was able. She didn’t need to climb the corporate ladder at the cost of her soul. There were other paths that could provide fulfillment if only she had the courage to walk them. That evening, Sarah began resigning from commitments she no longer believed in and drafting a new plan. She would take the spring and summer to rediscover her artistic talents, volunteering with local environmental non-profits in her free time. Come fall, she would teach art part time while also launching an online business selling her nature-inspired paintings. It would be a risk to her financial security, but staying on her current route would be a risk to her well-being. As the days grew longer, Sarah found herself waking each morning with a renewed sense of purpose. She had rediscovered the deep roots of her being and was watering them once more. There would still be challenges ahead, but she was finally living in alignment with who she was born to be.
As you read these lines, look and reflect within you for a moment before you check your phone for the barrage of messages and instagram notifications ready to distract you for the day. There’s a piece of Sarah in you. Life is short.