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Currency is a medium of exchange for products and services. This we know, regardless of where we live in the world. What no one acknowledges is how there are more currencies than just money. We exchange much more than paper bills and silver coins. We trade our time, our health, our serenity, our satisfaction, and sometimes even, our self-respect. Why do we do it? To survive, of course – though I am well aware that many of us have unique comprehensions of what it means to survive.
To survive is one thing – to thrive is another. How can we shift away from this belief that we must sacrifice our peace of mind for our paycheck? Not every person reading this may be in a position of power or privilege where they can up and change their life circumstances with each new insight, however, I do believe that thoughts become things, and if we can alter our thinking by increasing our self-worth and permitting our ideas to run free, then the possibilities are endless.
Everyone I talk to, friends, siblings, cousins, colleagues, store clerks, and passing strangers, complain of the same thing: they’re exhausted. And not exhausted from a meaningful day’s work that gifted them with immense purpose, but exhausted from having their mental resources depleted, so much so that they only have energy for takeout food and Queer Eye once they return home. Some of these individuals are doing very well financially, and this type of financial freedom is highly regarded in a consumerist country like the United States, which is where I live. However, if the currency you’re working for (money) is costing you your time with your family (currency) or your mental health (currency), is it a fair trade in the end?
You could have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have the time to spend it, to enjoy the fruits of your labor, then what exactly is the point? Especially when no one is guaranteed to even live until their retirement. Personally, I value my time greatly, and would be far more willing to part with six-figure salaries if it meant getting to keep a piece of myself in exchange.
In my current role as a Tour Consultant for an educational travel company, the starting salary is far below the national average. However, I’ve found it nearly impossible to leave, because what they lack in financial compensation, they more than make up for with their unrivaled benefits package.
I have the Catalac of health insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and I pay a little over $20 per month for the most top-notch care I could ask for. Last year, I had to have an emergency appendectomy, which cost around $25,000. After my insurance payout, my final bill was $100. I remember the medical staff informing me that I had better health insurance than they did. And yes, my health coverage includes therapy.
What’s also delightful is that my company flies me to Europe once a year for professional development, and then to many domestic locations for conferences, which always end up being one big company-wide party. We also have notoriously slow summers, and because our schedules dip, we can take a much-deserved break while our teachers do, since they tend to be our main clients. We are also given work from home privileges that allow for greater flexibility and less road rage during rush hour traffic. Did I mention that we have a month of paid vacation leave a year? I don’t know many U.S. companies with such a generous PTO policy. On top of all of this, they offer unlimited sick days, unlimited mental health days, and if you’re ever trying to conceive a child, they’ll assist you with those financial burdens, everything from adoption to in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Everything I just mentioned is a currency for which I am willing to take a pay cut. Having four weeks off in a year, rather than two weeks, means that I can spend more time traveling or writing. Having good health care means I can afford to see a therapist every week and we can work on exorcising my demons from childhood. The slow summers save me from burnout, and give me a chance to rejuvenate – to work on projects I might have otherwise neglected. The international trips they pay for me to go on quench my spirit’s thirst for adventure and fill me with gratitude.
It’s a personal preference, but make sure you don’t forget to ask yourself what yours is. Does money really offer you more freedom? If so, then that’s completely fine. There’s no right or wrong answer. If you feel good about what you’re doing every day, then by all means, keep doing it. If it’s draining you, always remember that you can make a change. Part of making that change is believing you’re deserving of it. Another part of it is getting curious and exploring your options. It might also mean dusting yourself off and taking some risks.
If you’re reading this and experiencing even the slightest craving for more – for more meaning, for more purpose, or for more excitement – take it as your sign that you don’t need to settle, ever.
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Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash
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