I want to share my story of living in pure “hell”. Oh yes, I was making good money, but that is what trapped me for so long. For five long years, I chose money over happiness, and it almost cost me my health and my family. The “hell” I’m speaking of was a boss and a company atmosphere where only one thing was important and that was making money – lots of money. It didn’t matter if what we did was ethical or not. It was almost as if it was a game to take advantage of someone else, even to cause someone else hardships. This atmosphere was also vibrant among employees. Rumors, false accusations, and lying, were all legal means to get ahead. I want you to know, I was not an innocent bystander. I got very good at playing all the games this company expected of me, and I was rewarded with raises and bonuses. I literally sold my soul to this job. 
        As I entered my fourth and fifth years with this company, my health was suffering, and my marriage was hurting because I was never home. But the thing that started getting to me was guilt. We were treating people like we would a roach on the floor, and this was making me think. 
        The person who helped me through this time in my life was a former neighbor. Oh yes, we moved to larger homes three times in the five years. This one neighbor we had when I first started with this company always stayed in touch. He would call ever once in a while and just ask how I was doing. I just usually said, “Great”, and tried to end the conversation as soon as possible. But one time he called when I was really down. I guess he could tell I was down, and he asked if I would like to have lunch. I gladly accepted. 
        I shared my whole story with him. He just listened. When I finished, he just reached over and touched my hand and said, “My wife and I would like to have you back as neighbors.” I didn’t know what he meant because there were no houses for sale in his area. He asked, “Do you remember how happy you and your family were when you lived over here?” Tears came to my eyes and I said, “Yes, I remember.” Then he explained that a neighbor doesn’t have to live next to one another. The neighbor he was talking about is a neighbor who cares about others regardless of where they live. 
        He then brought me up-to-date regarding his life over the past five years and how happy and content they were – and how blessed they were. Hearing him talk hit me hard. We had a much larger home, more expensive cars, more money, and yet he was happy and I wasn’t. I knew something needed to change but I didn’t know how. He invited my wife and me to dinner at his home. After visiting with my wife, she grudgingly accepted his invitation. I can’t remember what was served for dinner. I just knew it was the best meal my wife and I had ever eaten! Our lives were changed that night, or should I say, our lives got back on track. 
        It took a few months for us to make needed changes. It was tough for our children, but they eventually understood and are on board and better for it now. I found a job with another company that pays about half what I was making, but we are happy! We look out for one another and actually have fun together. We found a smaller home, and my wife and I are spending more time together with our children. 
        Through all of this, there is one thing that I am so grateful for – that neighbor who kept calling to see how I was doing, even when I secretly wished he would leave me alone. And yes, he is still my neighbor even though we live in different parts of town.

Ted
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