A Break In The Traffic

A break in the traffic, he thought, in the cold winter mornings. The stories have all been about death defying mountaineers on the side of Mount Everest; in incredibly beautiful far-off places; Lincoln Hall who survived the night at 8600 metres and was found half undressed the next day after being left for dead. Sue Fear, Australia's top female mountaineer, feared dead in a crevasse on Mount Manaslu. Extremes, in far off places; under flourescent lights, in front of computer screens; talking to people in remote places; a man in the Hudson Valley, connecting automatically from his office phone in New York. A man at Advanced Base Camp on the side of Everest. Offices in Khatmandu. People everywhere.

The time wasn't right, was never right. He didn't know why he did things he did. There weren't pertinent crises. The river hadn't run dry. He wasn't up to anything, but some days it was just quiet, too quiet. The colours were extraordinary. He couldn't hide that fact.

In his dreams he had always gone back to the mountains above Rishikesh, the ancient hashish soaked sadhu route which took in Badrinath, the ancient, powerful temples, and Hemkundt, the holy place of the Sieks. And the Valley of the flowers. And the hidden, secret, astonishingly beautiful villages. He always thought he would return there; even die there. Always circling beyond the next turn; to the next exquisite view. Each day was unique. He forgot them quickly.

Sad to say, here's an article I related to:

MXS, Edition 1 - SYD TUE 16 MAY 2006, Page 008 Stuck at work and careering nowhere - WELCOME TO MIDDLESCENCE

If you hate the boss, feel bored and frustrated at work and want a new start but dare not try, you are not alone.

According to a study you suffer from middlescence a malaise similar to adolescence that affects grown-ups.Researchers in the US gave the name to the negative feelings which descend on millions of workers aged from 35 to 54. Rather like being a teenager, being a middlescent is a frustrating, confusing and exasperating experience. They find themselves leaving work feeling ``burned out, bottlenecked and bored''. Asked their opinions about their jobs, those in the 35-54 age group are the least likely to describe their office as ``congenial and fun''.

They are more dissatisfied with their managers than other age groups and have little confidence in senior executives. One in five look for an escape route but 85 per cent know a career change is difficult. Huge financial pressures, such as mortgages and school fees, mean they are unable to quit for a different lifestyle or less well-paid job. They usually work long hours, typically putting in at least 50 hours a week. ``Many mid-career employees are working more, enjoying it less and looking for alternatives,'' the report published by Harvard Business Review says.

The report suggests a sabbatical can help staff rejuvenate. It also suggests giving middlescents a new job in the same company, asking them to mentor younger staff and sending them on training courses.