misAdventures of Workmonkey 3.0

I've recently been struggling with some life issues, plagued with the stress of getting older, maybe brought on by knee surgery, maybe not. This whole marriage thing, career thing, I just don't know if it my thing, you know? Is Jill right for me? Am I ready for a family? Is advertising a good career choice? Am I supposed to even be living in New York?

Fortunately, in my time of deep darkness, I was close to my favorite book of all-time, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Plagued with doubt and angst, I immediately re-read it, and thank God I did. It had the perfect answer for all my questions:

Follow your dreams.

Thank you, Paulo, for that insight. As long as I "follow my dreams" I'll be ok. Just when my life was careening off track, you came in and saved me with your insightful fable. After reading, all stress left me, and answers flooded into my mind. Follow your dreams, Mark, I repeated again and again. Follow your dreams. Follow your dreams. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! I screamed it on the streets, and whispered it in the subway. I painted it on my chest, and chalked it on the sidewalk. I sang it to my enemies, and wrote it to my friends. Follow your dreams, Kenta. Follow your dreams, Paul. Just follow your dreams. And rid yourself of all sadness forever. Oh, and eat more lamb shwarma, too.

Suffice to say, all is ok now. The clouds have parted, with Paulo's advice. I'd also like to thank The Celestine Prophecy, Tuesdays with Maury, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Everything I needed to Know I lived in Kindergarten and Ishmael for confirming that in order to find happiness forever, all i need to do is dance more, listen to my heart, eat raw green peppers, share my crayons, and turn off all electrical power.