Is the clock ticking?

The relentless pressure of time seems to be the norm in the corporate world. Fresh out of academia, whether university or an internship, you are expected to possess a wealth of answers, boundless energy, fresh ideas and a clear growth plan.

Yet, with a speed that often feels jarring, the big 4-0 looms and, with it, the idea that this is the pinnacle of your career. If you miss the mark by then, the narrative goes, the climb only steepens. Cross that fortieth year and whispers that you are ‘too set in your ways’ and resistant to new ideas begin to circulate.

Meanwhile, the rhythm of corporate life continues with its endless milestones to chase, unwavering grip of deadlines and inevitable last-minute demands on your time.

But soon you’ll have time

Retirement beckons in the distance, promising a future where you can finally enjoy the fruits of your labour. That’s when you can truly indulge in what excites you. That’s when there will finally be space for living, exploring and perhaps even embracing love fully.

But a curious thing happens as that retirement date approaches.

The passions you had hoped to pursue outside the office may remain elusive. The sense of purpose that was so intertwined with your career may leave a void. The person you share your life with, now seen through the lens of spending much more time together, may feel unexpectedly unfamiliar. The years spent watching your children grow up, experienced only in part, will become an unrepeatable chapter.

Financial security and a carefully planned nest egg might be there. But a deeper question is: where has your inner life, your true essence, been all along?

Haven’t we all bought into this grand plan of deferred living?

Perhaps the real enigma of time is its singular point of existence: the here and now. Just as life unfolds each moment.

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