Quitters Win

I felt insulted and disrespected. Earlier today, I had my lunch alone. It is one time I enjoy during my days at work. I rarely go out with teammates during lunch. I just love the solitude. So I was alone until a group of former workmates came at the place. I knew only two of them as I usually had meetings with them during my stay at their company. And the others were just familiar faces. The place was full. So they asked if they could share seats. I gladly accommodated them as it was also a chance to have a chitchat with former workmates.  Then one of the other familiar faces said she didn’t know me. Then in return, I told her I recognized her as she’s someone who’s always on the registration table during events.  Then she asked for my name then she suddenly remembered me. Just my name to be exact.

So I was eating this

They were around 6 or 7. They seemed to be in a playful mood. They were the usual groups we see, joking around, talking aloud. So I was eating my meal then. I stopped for a while as part of courtesy. I talked a bit with the two that I knew. And at times the other familiar girl joined in.  They were waiting for their orders.  Then one of the two persons I knew had her food. She had a large cup of drink. I asked her if what she had was the large tea. I’m not yet familiar with the menu there as the resto had just opened.  She had a large cup at hand but I’m not sure if it’s the one that was in the promo ad at the counter so I had to ask. Then this just-familiar girl butted in on a sarcastic tone saying “no, it is not. It is the SMALL one”. Yeah, ok. We’re close, NOT. She did not even know me like she said. And she disturbed my solo time. Yet she's trying to make fun of me. Or maybe I was just not clear if I was referring to the promo. But still I don’t think I deserved that.

Okay, so they’re in playful mode. So I just tried to join their mood rather than feeling bad about it. Then I asked if what she’s having then is the “very small tea” as she’s holding a relatively smaller cup, almost half the size. There’s just a 10 peso difference between the prices of the large and regular tea as seen on the list so I had to ask again. But the reply I received was a sarcastic blabber. So I just shut my mouth. Then I let them do the joking among themselves. Then I just learned that what she’s drinking was not the tea but milkshake. So my question was indeed valid but she seemed to be disinterested with a respectful chatting.  I quit trying to make a serious talk with them except for the two I knew.

To quit is not at all that bad. It may also mean freedom. Freedom to chase the things you really wanted.  To do other things which were not possible.

Quitting does not mean surrendering your goal. It is actually a way to reassess your target. Is your objective to be the best employee in that company or is it to achieve a better life thru your job? Is your dream to be the best player in your team or to achieve your maximum potential as an athlete? Is your target to earn on that particular stock or investment or is it to attain financial freedom? 

Most of the time, we are blinded by the drive to succeed in every engagement that we do. Or by the motivation being told by the people around us which inspires us to push further to become better in our current situation. We usually get sidetracked from our main goal trying to work harder thru that particular medium.  

Your goal is to shoot that and win. Not to make good dribbling and look good.

That’s what most things around us are. A medium to achieve our end goal. But most of us end up simply trying to be the best in that specific medium. And then forgetting what our initial targets really are.  And we end up ignoring other possible and better options to attain our dreams. And we got stuck. And then it’s too late.

If quitting crosses your mind, for once try to give it a serious thought. Weigh things around it. Listen to your body, your emotion and your thoughts. They are trying to say something. Listen carefully. Think twice. Thrice.  And then choose. You will have two major options. First is to quit what you’re doing now while bringing with you what you learned from it and finding a better medium to get to your target. Second is to quit the blame game. It’s your choice to stick to that situation anyway. 

So I still had a meal to finish. I tried to excuse myself so I can continue eating in front of them. So the typical Pinoy I am, I said “kain”. We know what this statement mean, right? I just had to say it so I could excuse myself from talking and to finish my meal. Again, in front of all of them. Then this other guy who doesn’t even have a familiar face whispered loudly (yes, it can be done) to that familiar girl. He said “kain daw”. I knew what he’s up to. The coward's trying to drag that familiar girl to throw another sarcastic joke on what I said. Such a very disrespectful group. Well, the two I knew didn’t join in. They showed courtesy.

Somehow, it made me feel good that I quit my former job. Not that I have anything bad to say about it.  I actually had a great time with them and leaving it was a big decision for me. I learned and gained a lot from my stay there. It’s just that if I didn’t quit, I could have been assigned to lead this bunch of disrespectful people.  Well, it’s actually better for them that I quit. If they only knew what I was like back then. They were lucky. And good thing for me that I changed. For the better. I hope so.