Rat in a Maze

Over the years working in corporate America, I've gotten used to the office life and routines.  Going there five days a week, year after year, you don't really have a choice but to get used to it.  It's easy to complain about work for most people.  Actually, very few have no complaints whatsoever.  It's impossible to put thousands of people into a building at the same time everyday and not have some gripes.  People really weren't meant to spend their days indoors and in little cubicles.

While leaving work the other day, it once again occurred to me how ridiculous the process seems.  It's easy to overlook and it's also not all that big of a deal, which is why I'll keep it short.  We have these turnstiles that we have to go through to get in and out of our buildings at work.  They were installed for security purposes.  The turnstiles detect your badge, identify you as an employee and permits entry.  These turnstiles are like fancier versions of the kinds you see going in and out of the subway (pictured).  Walking the halls and stairwells, winding corners, and walking through the turnstiles single file makes you feel...trapped.  Not literally, of course, but it is a bit suffocating. 

Then, as you exit the fortress, the outside air rushes and hits you in the face.  Countless times while walking to the parking lot in a small group, you see everyone else begin to decompress from a day of work as well.  It's beautiful outside and the day is pretty much over.  Is that depressing?  I guess it is and written down, it seems a little overly dramatic, but nonetheless, it's all part of the deal.  We get used to it, but we should also not forget that life isn't about turnstiles.  It's easy to complain, like I said, and some days it bothers me more than others.  Sometimes it's difficult to imagine not going through turnstiles several times a day.  Then I think about people that don't have jobs and want them, people that would give a lot to go through these turnstiles.Some days I'm totally okay with it and others I'm disgusted.    So am I lucky or is this just a bad joke?  To be continued....

Comments

[matt]

it's like the line from office space about not being meant to work in cubicles. hard to say if we're lucky or unlucky, but it's a living...