A Coping Mechanism

To be honest, I think I just discovered a real life hack, one I probably have known about for a very long time but never paid attention to it.

And it's something simple, nothing complicated at all. The key to surviving any place is finding one thing that you like and looking forward to it every day. This was a technique that I had applied to my work many years ago as a fuel station attendant.

It was one of the jobs that I hated so much but needed the money, so I had made friends with this lady and would always look forward to meeting her at work every morning. That was the only thing that motivated me back then, and I remember how sad I felt on days when she didn't have to come to work, because it was like my one purpose wasn't available any more.

But you see, as this method works for me, I'm aware of the disadvantages that come with it too. Because it is never a good idea to place someone or something in charge of your happiness, but luckily for me, when you're locked in a place where your movements are restricted, and you really can't go anywhere for a limited number of days, you get this little assurance that this person wouldn't just get up and disappear or not come to work like my colleague.

If you're still wondering what I'm talking about, it is that I've found a coping mechanism on how to survive this hellhole, one that almost requires me to do nothing. It turned out that two guys who I made friends with had secured the position of being in charge of the generator being used in camp.

And apparently, such a position is so important that once given the responsibility, you're required not to do anything else, not even attend the early morning parade. Well, ever since I found out about that, I've maximized the opportunity, making sure to sit with them almost at all times, while we watch other people stand, run, and some even faint under the hot sun.

Being able to dodge a lot of the activities in this camp has made it go from being a hellhole to a place where I could see myself surviving the rest of the day with a bit of a smile on my face. And now, I wake up every morning, looking forward to me spending time with the guys, doing nothing, while everyone else fights for their lives on the parade ground.