Hamster wheels have fascinated me my whole life. They are a metaphor for doing the same routine over and over and seeming to never make any progress. Remember the Peter Principle? Rising to your highest level of incompetence, maybe getting promoted one more time and then
YOU ARE STUCK.
In real estate, one key hamster wheel is the 24 /7 Realtor. I hope I never go there and forget balance and to have a life. Buyers can be on hamster wheels looking at houses ad nausem and never buying. Sellers can be little hamster wheels too with Days On Market that defy good judgment in hiring a Stager, a maintenance man or getting REAL on price.
In corporate life, a worker can get in a rut and after ten years on the job just burns out and says there has to more to this life than just pushing paper. Time to let the hair down, hit the road on the Harley and drive to Yellowstone and see Old Faithful. We are smarter than hamsters and need to get off these wheels.
Yes, life may come full circle on us and seeing the same lesson presented to you AGAIN. Maybe you didn't learn it yet. But life should be about LEARNING, and GROWING. Thriving, not just existing. Sometimes we get on hamster wheels cause we build traps for ourselves with our education, where we live, whom we associate with, and our financial situation. Some who have dedicated later portions of their lives to taking care of ill spouses or children or parents know they are on a hamster wheel and know this is a phase of their life for sacrifice. They will eventually do something else.
Know that while we all can paint ourselves into a corner and get stuck we can change. It just takes one baby step in a different direction each day to get out of the rut. You must first decide, and then have the will to act.
There's a story about the Mama bird and the baby bird on the branch way up high in the tree. The Mama bird keeps pecking on the baby birds feet until it hurts so much the baby bird FINALLY leaps off the branch and flies. We have to find motivation within to fly. I'm trying to give you a boost here with thinking about it. You know you are an eagle who wants to soar. Fly out of that nest and be the best version of you that the world needs to see each and every day. I'll be cheering you on as you soar!
Marchel: They say the first step in getting out of the rut is to stop digging.
Liz: Is Active Rain blogging a hamster wheel? It could be if done too much.
Orobosa: I think your point on spontaneity is great. It is all to often lost nowadays.
How right! I've been in that hamster wheel for to long now... It is so unfortunate that we loose the perspective of life. Thank you for reminding us all how important is to change direction and get out of our hamster wheel trap.
Tony & Darcy: You're welcome.
Arina: It is very easy to get on these wheels and we have to remember to change directions now and then when the time is right.
Thanks for the post Gary. We often fall into a rut and we need to get those feet pecked a bit to jump out of it.
GARY - Great message about not getting stuck in a rut. I think that it happens to all of us at one time or another, and reminders like these make us stop and think. Thanks Gary.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in a hamster wheel. It is so important to remember what is important in life and not get stuck in the rat race; that is why vacations are SO necessary. We all need time to clear our heads and think before we can really take any steps to make changes in our lives.
Carole: I'm all for play : )
Paddy: When the pain is too much at the status quo we move on.
Marc: I try to keep these little thoughts short.
Adam: I think no one likes to be in a rut and bored.
Patricia: Vacations definitely rejuvenate us.
Gary, I find that going away for a few days to clear my head always helps me out of a rut and I come back energized!
Marzena: Getting rid of fear and doubt is the way to go for sure.
Jesse: 24/7 Realtors make no sense at all yet many wear it like a badge of courage.
Carol: The change of scenery and routine revitalizes us.