The Gamble

Today is a bit of a strange blog but something which I have been reflecting on all day during my adventures.

This story involves two of my former colleagues from my time working at BP in the finance and trading.

I have changed their names so that their privacy is respected.

During my time in finance we used to meet up for beers after work with the team. After long days in the office with high amounts of stress we would unwind and talk over a few drinks.

There was always a popular topic. What was the magic number? The number referred to how much money we would need in our bank accounts to then quit this lifestyle and go follow our dreams.

£2 million, £5 million, £10 million or maybe more. Some of the traders were earning vast amounts and the numbers therefore could get ridiculous.

The thing that stood out was that everyone had a number and their “Escape Plan” with dream of future life involved. The underlying fact was that no one seemed to love what they were doing, just the money it brought in.

A vineyard in France, a Villa in Tuscany, a Chalet in the mountains to ski.

Almost 15 years after I impulsively quit one day with nearly nothing in my bank account, but a huge sense of wanting to experience life….. I received the juxtaposition of some lovely news and some sad news.

My old colleague James, who is still one of my best friends, was having his last day in Finance. James is burnt out after giving nearly 20 years of his life to the industry. He has not achieved the bank balance but he has followed in my footsteps of seeking a better day to day.

We were reminiscing over messages about our old colleagues and what they might now be up to. This is where the sad news comes.

It would seem that a few years ago our former teammate Gareth passed away suddenly. In the blur of busy life no one had informed us.

Gareth was one of the traders who worked on our bench. Most of all he was a lovely person and one of the good guys. He was not more than two years older than me.

His rewards for his job were a luxurious lifestyle and financial security.

And yet the working lifestyle and stress seems to have contributed to his early departure from life.

I mentioned all of this and recount this story as a reminder that we all too often put off living in the present with the dream that the future will be amazing. It is referred to as Deferred Happiness.

There are few guarantees regarding the future.

It feels like far too many people are gambling their best years and health on a dream of what Society deems to be success way off in the future.

As I walked through the woods today, feeling the moss under my shoes and the cold crisp air on my sunlit face,I felt chagrin at the fact my former colleague Gareth will never get to experience this again despite having had a lucrative yet far too short life.

Live for today and not for tomorrow ….or for in 20 years time

Now for some happy dogs who are living in the present 👇🏼

Doggies: Palo, Bandido, Mari, Nola, Stella, Quila and Jello