I’m practicing my dad jokes to find my self again. I burned out from stress two weeks ago. For the second time this year, you should think that I could see it coming but no. It wasn’t until I visited the doctor that I realised that my symptoms were stress related and I started to see all the things that were stressing me out and the coping strategies I used.
So I have been on sick leave this week. I will wrap up at work next week. I quit Monday. No job is worth your health. My six month trial period was up so an easy point to get off the train. It’s not like all our worries disappear but it feels great to take back control of things. Saying no. Letting go.
I will continue processing over the next weeks and months. What happened. How do I move on from here. What type of job, what workplace will be right for me. Hitting the job market again when I’m ready.
Luckily I have two great kids and a very supportive wife. We will get through this as well.
The important things in life
It has been great with a week to focus on the other things in life. Attending my youngest' end of season session at the circus school. It was fun as we get to participate and play with the other kids and parents. Being there for our elderly neighbour who fell ill and needed medical assistance. Calling the ambulance. Visiting him at the hospital. Helping his wife drive him home.
Why do we set ourselves up with a work the other end of the city with no time and energy for the people closest to us?
Anyhow, my mood came back and I started joking with my kids again. You gotta do the dad jokes while you still have an audience.
The biggest stress element I think is the War in Ukraine. To see the "fun and games" played around in the Congress, in Israel, in Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey. But I believe that in the end, humanity will come around. Make this planet a nice habitable place again without minefields and oil rigs. A place we can hand over to our kids and be proud of. I refuse to think otherwise.
So let’s laugh in the face of evil and find courage to persist and pull through.
Loosely based on an old Stalin joke, it’s time for a story.
Somewhere in Russia, present time
Putin and his personal driver were on their way home to the datcha after a late evening in the Kremlin. It was dark and the roads were not good after many, many months of the SMO.
All of a sudden a pig runs out in front of the car and BANG the car hits it and it’s dead on the spot. Even worse there is a big dent in the bumper.
Putin orders the driver to go to the nearest house and find out whose pig it was so they can pay for the damages. Which the driver does.
But he doesn’t come back until the next morning, his clothes in disorder and with a heavy hangover.
Putin is furious and asks what happened?
I walked to the house, knocked on the door and when they answered, I told them I was Putin’s driver and I killed the pig.
They invited me in and we were celebrating all night!