A few days ago I sent an email to my colleague sat work, telling them that I was fine and attaching a photo of me in the hammock. Today I finally logged into my email account at work again and read some of the replies. It pretty much confirmed what I had feared: It’s not getting better back there.

In fact I found that some of the people who wrote me sounded even more bitter and disappointed then they did when I left. Or is it me who has changed and is now so far removed from it all that it just notice it more? I think there is something fundamentally wrong if the work you are doing and the company you are working for is giving you more frustration then joy. And it looks pretty much like it will be that way when I return at the end of the year. In fact, it was that way before I left. But what can I do about it?

One rather obvious answer is of course: Don’t return. And in fact I have to admit that I find the thought of going back to my old 8.45 to 17.45-job outright repulsive. And that is after having been away for more then three months. Under normal circumstances you should expect that after a few weeks you’d look forward to your work again. But no: I don’t. So obviously something will have to change during this year: My attitude, my working conditions at home or my job. But what should I do instead? What can I do instead? What skills do I have? On careful reflection I’d say: Not many. At least not many that would give me an opportunity to escape the same old treadmill. Cause face it: The things I dislike about my old job are everywhere back home. It’s all “same, same” and not very different at all.

So maybe I should consider not only changing the job but even my career. Do something completely different instead. But would I have a happier life if I worked as a barman or in some other equally meaningless job? And do I have the guts to find out? And what is it that I really want to do? Well, I still have nine months to come up with an answer.