Life stops for nobody. It is whistling by, one deadline at a time.
My typical Thursday involves turning out a marathon of code. You fail and you are out – we are told. No excuses, just deadlines. The laboratory blinds are all closed. The aircon spews cold air onto our sweaty brows. Debug! Compile! Run! We must finish by 5pm! No excuses, just Java.
This is the life I have chosen. An endless flurry of furious coding, accompanied by the occasional peek at Facebook, Twitter, 9Gag and News24. Stuck on that same blinking red line of code, I decided a break was in order.
I took a step outside the department. Who knew the sun could be so bright? My mind was so transfixed on Java; I failed to notice the weavers nesting in the acacia trees above my head.
Pausing for a moment, I stared directly at the beautiful yellow chested, charcoal faced birds. They were dancing through the branches. Their wings flickered sharply in the sunlight as they echoed the calls of their neighbors. It was by far the most magnificent thing I had seen all day – a few steps outside the laboratory.
My break over, I ventured back to my desk. I cracked a joke at a colleague whom had just slammed his keyboard for the umpteenth time that day. Sitting down, I Leaned back in my chair and placed my hands behind my head.
File. Save. Shut-down. It was time to go do a little fishing. I left the blackberry at home. Left the deadlines at my desk and headed out to the furthest dam I could find. Just for a few hours. I wanted to feel alive and well.
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