Punching The Time Clock

How long have we been doing this? For myself, since I was 14. I have used all sorts of timeclocks. I have used timecards that had the time punched out on its little slot. I have used stamp timeclocks in the same manner. I have used a keypad to code myself in and out. I have used an electronic ID, and I have used the honor system. But all in all, I am working for “the man”, punching the clock and trading time for money. We pretty much all do this. Where has it gotten us? Enslaved to a way of life, enslaved to bills and debt. We work and work and work some more all just to have a few short-lived years of retirement. And maybe you were smart enough to invest in a retirement plan. Although we generally change jobs or careers at least 4 times. Oh, I have changed a bit more than that and I don’t have any retirement. So, I will live off Social Security and if you’re not aware that doesn’t pay all that much. So just why are we punching the time clock day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year? Why are we working ourselves to death to end up basically with nothing.

I think there are many reasons for this. One reason is, because it’s what we know and have always known. My parents did it, my siblings did it, my neighbors did it, everybody is doing it. It’s a way of life. We start learning the value and the non-value of money from an early age. We are programmed to do something and get paid for it. Chores, mowing the lawn, lemonade stand. Then when we are “old” enough we are allowed and expected to go to work and to create income. Income for house payment, rent, gas, food, but also entertainment and maybe unexpected costs as well, like a vehicle breakdown or a medical expense. Suddenly we don’t have enough money, and we need to punch the timeclock even more than we already do to make more money, to spend more money, because the more we make, the more we spend. What a vicious cycle. And, well, it’s exhausting.

I dream about a different way of life. I yearn for it. But it’s so overwhelming and daunting that it petrifies me and holds me in bondage to do nothing. And then another year goes by, and another. I’m trying to get through this. Have another cup of coffee, trudge on, trudge on. Win the lottery, fat chance. Trudge on, trudge on. I’m old and my body is hurting but it’s too early to retire. I trudge on, I don’t have a choice. Hi ho hi ho it’s off to work I go. Chachunk, Chachunk goes the time clock. Beep, beep, beep, beep goes the time clock. Tap, tap, tap goes the keypad as I try to reason my insanity. I’m so tired. I don’t want to punch a timeclock anymore. I don’t want to trade all my time for just a little bit of money. I want to be free. Free from the bondage of a timeclock, free to explore and to enlighten the rest of my journey. It just takes a step. A step away from the timeclock and a step towards a new journey. It is possible. I have to believe. There is a saying, ” get busy living or get busy dying”. I’m not ready to die yet so it seems that awareness leads to a different path. If I no longer punch the timeclock then I’m free to entertain all sorts of possibilities. I like the sound of that better than punching the timeclock. Chachunk. What do you think? Are you ready to stop doing the same ol thing and take charge of your life, live your dreams and your passions. Well than just step away from the timeclock, because it isn’t time to clock in, what it’s time for is to seek a new beginning. See ya on the journey.