Poem: Happiness is the Best Revenge

Seoul Sister, , 
Should I quit?
I think I shouldn’t 
but I often wish I could.
But if I quit 
that would make them elated
with my modest savings deflated.

So I think I’ll stay 
Smile inside like a grenade
like a laughing Buddha 
holding up the sky.
Leave the stress
for them to obsess over
deal with on their own time. 

Watch them sweat 
While I drink 
the sweet lemonade I made.
Shame them with my excellence
Prove them wrong 
Embarrass them 
by surviving the reaping
with confidence.

Why should I quit?
Fuck that.
Happiness is the best revenge.

50 Comments

    1. Thank you, Sylvester 🤗, I’m having one of those days! I guess it’s called work for a reason 🤪! I’m looking forward to retirement but I’ve got a long ways to go!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, Judy 🤗 Oh yes, I have been there! Sometimes it’s the people that you work with make things crazier than the work you’re doing 😜 would be nice to retire and get away from the daily work grind..

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Energy drained from toxic environment, I used to fit in before I left liberalism, now it’s torturous work. Public institutions should be unbiased places, I should have a thicker skin but am sensitive to hypocrisy. Early retirement sounds blissful, that’s one of my new goals. Life’s too short to feel miserable at work.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. It should be unbiased but you have some leaning to the far right or left and pushing their own agendas or the underlying racism. Sometimes it’s tough to wear that thick skin but we must for our own well-being sanity. That’s a great goal to go for. I don’t want to retire at such an age where I cannot really enjoy life. ✈️ ⛱️ 🌞

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Yes, they’re not helping with unity, just causing more divisions. Self-care is key to good health I think. I want to enjoy retirement while I have the energy! 🤗💖

        Liked by 2 people

      5. We definitely need to take care of ourselves and continue to find things that give us moments of joy, peace and contentment. I want to enjoy some nice sunsets with good energy and not nodding off to sleep 🤗💖

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Christopher 🤗, I’m having one of those days! It’s a bad indication when it feels like torture to go to work. I wish I didn’t waste half my life as a liberal, I guess my brother was right, should’ve gone to law school after all. 🤪

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, River. Non-creative, dead-end work feels like a slow death for artists. I wish I could turn off my intelligence and stop caring most days at my job.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Saving is one component of early retirement. Giving/Charity is another!!

        The trick is not to keep enhancing our lifestyle with every increase in our income. Save more. Give more. Have faith.

        God willing you shall retire early Judy 😊🤗

        Liked by 1 person

      2. True, saving is so important and giving back does create abundance. I think we’re taught to spend but taking care of what we already have is good for the environment and our bank account. Thank you Ashok! 🤗💖

        Liked by 1 person

      1. That is one of the most beautiful parts about it. It can say what you want it to say, and sometimes more than you intended. And it can release your thoughts in a way that no other style of writing can.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. That’s a good point, many layers within writing both intended and accidental, it has a mysterious quality to it, creating something from nothing. I love how personal and universal it is, a way to immediately connect with each other.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Very much so. It can say everything in a way you never could otherwise, while being just opaque enough that the reader takes what they want from it and leaves better as a result. Thank you again it really was beautiful

        Liked by 1 person

  10. I love this. Feels like performance poetry. Can see it, hear it, being performed on stage!
    I hope things get better at work. Keep your options open. You never know what other opportunities might come along.
    You’re living more in the truth now, so you see the lies and it’s painful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Sue! :). Very true, after seeing the hypocrisy more in all areas of life, you’re right it’s hard to behave the same way when your eyes are open. I’ve been thinking that I’d love to do a career change, buy an RV/tiny home, start YouTube channels with my sister and make writing/art more of a focus to feel happier in life. Life is too short to feel miserable at work. I won’t quit until I have a new source of income though :).

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Kritika, thank you. How are you? I’m going through work related stress but trying to shift my perspective. I wish all bosses would just be nice people.

      Liked by 2 people

      2. Yes, it’s been a stressful time for me at work, but today I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for your positive wishes, I think they helped! 💖🤗

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Much of this is so relatable… I read some of your comments here which make it even more so… I am still trying to process what happened at my last job… I try and try to let it go… with varying amounts of success…

    surviving with confidence…

    I love this so much… very inspiring. Hugs Judy 🤗💗🌈🌤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Lia, thank you. We spend most of our lives at work and when it’s a toxic environment it’s hard to not let it affect us. I’m sorry that you experienced a similar thing, I do think karma will visit the abusers eventually and meanwhile we can’t let them get to us, (that’s what they want), so we have to do the opposite :)! Hugs to you too Lia💖🤗🌷😘

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Love it! Just the kind of thing I needed to hear today! Reminds me this is not the time to be by the industry or whatever you want to call it. Just a really solid poem. Can’t wait to see more like this!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Benjamin 😊, deflecting external stress with internal peace is my new ongoing work goal. I’m tired of letting myself get drained, not worth it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome. That makes so much sense. I agree with you on this. We have to know when to breathe and when let go and when to fight on. “internal peace” is so key. I’m going ot hang onto this awhile.

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