Early morning but still dark, must be around 4am, loud breathing begins, partner snores again, followed by whale-like exhale - you're awake again. Desperate to get more sleep, got work in the morning. Alarm clock is set to ring at 6.30am. You wish you could make money while you sleep.



Alarm goes off. Need to be at the office by 8. Feel like you've been hit by a bus, too much fragmented sleep. Struggle out of bed, stagger to the bathroom for a shower to try to wake up, dry off, get dressed, stagger to kitchen. Flick the kettle on, prepare breakfast, make coffee and flop onto a kitchen chair. Eat breakfast comatosed.

Drive to work, don't remember the drive. Still a zombie. Arrive at the office, late. Reprimand. Immediately make a second cup of coffee, or even a third. Begin to come to at around 10am. Work steadily through the day, knock off, drive to the gym, work out, then drive home.

Work on the computer for a while, then prepare dinner and feed pet. Discuss the day with partner, clean up after dinner, head back to the computer to do a bit more.

Finally stagger off to bed together, eventually fall asleep, exhausted. Restless night's sleep, partner snores, twitches ...

At what point do you get to feel alive, exhilarated, energized, enthusiastic, on fire, raring to go, achieve and accomplish your dreams? One day, just not now, not today. Too tired.

Cut to two years from now. Where will you be?

Exit subsistence - enter existence. Stop the rat race, stop the lack of sleep, stop the treadmill, just stop. Turn off the alarm clock - forever - unless it is to catch an early morning flight, for a well-earned and overdue holiday. Or vice versa.

In two years from now, you could, if you choose, sack your boss, never have to be caught up in the rat race again, work the hours you choose, from home, or from a location of your choice, anywhere in the world, not have to commute for hours to and from work, especially not in the rush hours, sleep as many hours as you like, earn more money than you could ever achieve from your job, even with the promotion.

If you choose to, you could begin on the road to living your dream.

Copyright (c) 2008 Jen Quigley