Newsletter (2017-2018) April 2018 Newsletter | Page 17

The Pursuit of Dreams
By Philip Wong
“Don’t you ever grow, it could stay this simple...”
The upsetting voices pervade around the car
through the speakers, adding a bit of vigour into
this mirthless environment. I am driving along
the highway, thinking about all the madness in
the office today. Prolonged pressures, endless
meetings, huge piles of files, crazy clients, and
a demanding boss…all these stressors finally
caused an outburst when I ran out of my boss’
room and slammed her door shut with deep in-
dignation.
Two years ago, when I first entered this world-re-
nowned company as a newbie, I thought it was a
good start to my adult life. Considerable pay, ex-
cellent benefits and a good reputation––all these
appealing conditions caught the positive atten-
tion of my family. Everyone was congratulating
me and telling me of their pride in me and how I
would, or should, love my job.
The facade of the café is inspired by minimalist
design. With soothing green-and-white walls
and several art pieces, this place is filled with
a strong literary atmosphere, giving off a sense
of comfort and warmth. But what really catches
my attention are the words on the signboard out-
side the shop. “A meditative and relaxing place
should never be missed. Singing Café is a place
where you can truly relax and throw all troubles
away with a uniquely-made beverage.” At the
moment I go in to see what it is, a singing voice
suddenly comes out from the cafe.
“I see skies of blue, clouds of white... ” A man
is washing a coffee cup while singing. Noticing
that I am here, he does not seem bothered or
embarrassed by the singing at all. Instead, you
can perceive his enjoyment of singing from his
face. His singing does not add any bizarreness to
the environment but perfectly integrates into it,
delivering warmth and comfort with his sooth-
ing and relaxing voice. All stressors, pressures
and pain seem to magically disappear. I find a
comfortable sofa, sit on it and heedlessly indulge
in everything in this environment, enjoying the
long-lost peacefulness and relaxation in my
mind.
At that time, I really believed that if I followed
their words and put my heart and soul into my
job, I would have great prospects, praises and
wealth, and thus enjoy the happiness that success
brought to me. In attaining this goal, I worked
very hard for this company to get recognition. I
would even flatter my boss just to get attention.
Fortunately, I got promoted after a year, but I “Sir, can I get you anything? You seem lost and
have not been happy about it, as things have not devastated,” a comforting voice asks. I get off
worked out as I expected.
from the soft sofa, slowly walk to the bar and
Rather than “loving my job”, it turns out that my sit down. “A cup of black coffee, please. Just like
enthusiasm for work is diminishing, and some- my career, life and future, it is always dark and
how my feelings about my job are gradually bleak. Maybe I’m just exhausted because all I
turning to hatred. Every day when I go to work, think about is making money.”
my mind wanders to thinking about how boring He smiles and says nothing. He then returns to
and tedious my job is. Contrary to others’ com- the bar and starts making a beverage. Cleaning
pliments about the good conditions of my job, I the coffee cup, measuring the amount of coffee
think my job is more like a cage that blocks me ground, manipulating the coffee machine––all
from freedom.
steps are skillfully performed and in his control.
I don’t really understand what has been happen-
ing on me. Why didn’t it work out as everybody
told me? Why have I never been happy about the
success that this job has brought to me? These
questions have been rooted in the deepest parts
of my heart, waiting for an answer….
While making coffee, he finally breaks the si-
lence. “How would you define success, sir?”
It is one of the first times in my life that I don’t
know how to respond. The difficulty of answer-
ing this question is even greater than solving a
complex math equation. I fall into a deep thought.
My mind remains jumbled until seeing a café. I have never really had a definition of success.
15
APRIL 2018