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Craig Oliver's avatar

Thanks Mike.

The character of Boxer in Animal Farm is based on the Soviet celebration of Stakhanovite’s - people who put super-human amounts of energy into their work. After exhausting himself, Boxer is rewarded by with being taken to the knackers yard - or glue factory. It’s a metaphor for people who don’t re-focus. I’m so glad you did - working out what makes you happy.

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Mikki Fisher's avatar

I remember way back in the annals of my lifetime when I declined to proceed with an interview for promotion (having spent hours on the application form), because I suddenly 'knew' that - although I'd probably get that job - it would eat up more of my own time. I was already working 36 hrs/wk (and then some) in a job I loved doing and I was really thinking ahead. I'd lose my 'flexitime' privileges, would be expected to hold meetings on top of my regular work, and would have been the leader of a team that really didn't need much leading as they were all competent and hard-working (I.e. more time doing 'other stuff'.)

In the end, my hunch paid off. The person who did the interview and got the job was burnt out within a year and quit. Me? I carried on as normal, until I was obliged to leave for personal reasons - and was offered voluntary redundancy (the team needed to shrink), with a nice severance package. I'm retired now, having done what most people dream of doing [have relocated twice - once to Norway (for 8 years) and then to the USA almost 10 years ago.]

I could have written what you've written here but you've done it most eloquently. Thanks for addressing this issue. More younger people need to read all about it - the truth of how life gets eaten up by working for money.

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