Memento - A Picture Tells A Thousand Words

Mini-Stops of Our Lives

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Backpedaling
Mini-Stop, Ortigas Centre
Pasig City, July 2004

"This art of resting the mind and the power of dismissing from it all care and worry is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great men."

Backpedaling. That’s how I once described work after my wife asked how my day was.

Never in my active years would I imagine that I could decide to pop into a record bar and rub elbows with the Australian Idol at 3 in the afternoon, nor allow myself to be in the middle of the ubiquitous 24/7 convenience store called Mini Stop and consider it to be a place to relax and read a newspaper at 11am. What’s more is to do all these - worry-free.

At 24, my career was on fast track having been considered to be the mini-president of a multi-national company. At 25, I was part of the EXCOM. At 26, I was being considered for general management position. At 27, I was practically running a small corporation. But everything changed when I decided to concentrate on one small but important aspect in my life – my wellness. I accidentally discovered to see work in a different light.

Now, and for the last 5 years, I have considered these years as my years of creativity. The highest point I can ever achieve. Not because of the position that is printed on the calling card, which I don’t even have, nor the stock options that’s on paper, which I might not even receive. But because I’ve been happy doing the things I love doing. It’s like playing teks or jolens in your polo barong.

Right now, I’m into my own Mini-Stop. Much more than the name of the store and for what is stands for, but because of the thought that I need to gather momentum once again, to pull back and start moving. I need to roll up my sleeves, pucker my lips and work the grind once more.

I have finished my resume. I have started putting them online. Crossed-fingers, and praying that I get a job in the next 2 months for I’ve realized I’ve taken enough time inside my Mini-Stop.

Life is too short to continue back-pedaling.