Lemmings
The lemming wakes up to the shrill sound of someone screaming bloody murder. He snaps his around to find only his phone alarm going off. 5:15 am is staring him in the face whispering “get the Fuck up”. The blue light bounces off his illuminates his forehead to revealing a sad sight. He scrolls along with other lemmings through Instagram and Twitter looking for some motivation or inspiration they tell themselves but scroll along. He likes pictures of models he’ll never meet, likes pictures of places he’ll never travel, and post pictures of himself as a happy person. He knows he’ll never attain the level of happiness he portrays to the world. His fingers glued to their iPhone X which cost him roughly one paycheck. Now it is 5:40 he needs to get his ass out of bed.
Rushing to shower, brush his teeth, and make himself breakfast he mindlessly misses the little things. The beautiful sunrise poking out over the city in the morning. The feel of crisp morning air. Just the feeling being alive and how incredible it is to be living, breathing, and thinking. He pauses while brushing his teeth and just lingers. He wants to scream and yell, “What the Fuck am I doing?”, but he stops. Stopping by his closet to choose between suits. It is either “I am kiss ass” Navy Blue or “I only care about money” Grey.
“Let’s go with grey today”, he thinks to himself.
Suit and tie are on he meanders to elevator. Richie on his floor also leaves around the same time. We all fucking hate Richie. He skips to the elevator and asks the same questions every morning. One day he’ll snap and absolutely punch Richie right in fucking mouth. It will feel like winning the Super Bowl. But he answers politely and heads to his Cobalt Blue 2009 Hyundai Sonata. Colbalt Blue was much better color when he was senior in High School. He drives from he shitty apartment building to downtown.
He enters the freeway which immediately turns into a parking lot. Music plays but he is unable to hear the songs through the frustration towards all of the other lemmings and their inability to drive. Slamming on his horn which is incredibly helpful to the situation leads to more rage. Bobbing and weaving through cars hoping one day an eighteen wheeler comes barreling through. But atlas no eighteen wheeler he made it another day.
Walking into the building he spots all the other lemmings. He notices the zombie like look in their faces. Lemmings carrying gym bags, lemmings in suits, lemmings hungover, and lemmings crushing coffee.
He wonders “is this really it? How can that be?”
After being hearded in, he starts with emails. He crushes emails because the caffeine racing through him. Sorry for late response…. Unfortunately….. I hope all is well….. Looking forward to connecting…. Each email he sends he dies a little inside but it’s worth the paycheck, 401k, and health insurance. Very important things to life.
Racing to get another cup of coffee just to get to 1pm. After that it’s all down hill. Each task that piles up he thinks “I’ll do that tomorrow.” His boss constantly stopping by while saying “ I don’t like micromanaging but….” He just wants to be left alone to do his job and leave. He wants to run the clock out. He is defeated head hung low just typing away and away and away. Drowning in emails, calls, and meetings. When does he get to see the light of day? When does he get to achieve what he has been called to do? Someday.
Pulling into his apartment feels as good as a bacon egg & cheese on a hungover sunday morning. Opening the fridge which is stocked with beer, ketchup, a Chinese food box, and some broccoli. Cracking open a cold beer while simultaneously turning on Netflix. Ahhhh The Office his comfort zone. Watching The Office for at least the 23rd time throw. He could quote it in his sleep if he had too.
Three beers deep and microwaved Chinese food he sits alone in an apartment that cost more than he could ever afford. But not truly alon, he has his Instagram, his Netflix, and his beer. These three things never disappoint a tired man after a long day. They suck him further and further into the couch. Numbing the pain with beer will do the trick for the night and he starts to lighten up.
The piano in the corner gathers dust. Sitting on top of it other dreams; Beginners Spanish, Start with your Why, The Lean Start-up. Each of these books represents a dream he gave up. Sitting down at the pain he plays “Let it Be” by the Beatles gently. Humming along to one of the world most beautiful songs, he feels at peace. Here is where you will find a happy Lemmings. His fingers dancing along keys
Speaking words of wisdom let it be.
Climbing into bed after 6 beers makes sleeping a little easier. He sets his alarm for 5:15am just to do it all again. He and thousands of other Lemmings do this daily until they retire and life pass him by. His dreams of playing the piano for thousands will sit in the corner with other dreams. He thinks tomorrow I will pick that book back up but he knows he is lying to himself. Stuck like a Lemming in quicksand. He pulls out his iPhone X and starts scrolling.