lay me down in the coffin, I only need the words said to make it true" - tired!

I recently read the current era of downsizing has created a catalyst for the "Black Hole" syndrome. Employees feel driven to "produce" in order to "survive" . Therefore, being drawn, slowly, down a black hole of despair. I didn't realize I was feeling this ; however, something is keeping me pushing and I guess this syndrome is as good to blame as the next. I think our industry has hatched this type of personality since day one, but I do feel it is getting worse.

Maybe the "Black Hole" is the reason.

We meet for dinner each month. I say "How you be?" You say "Haven't had a day off for two months". I keep asking at the meetings, "What is anybody doing for fun?; mostly I get, "Fun? What's that?"

I've also heard there is a "80-20" rule. 80 percent of the work is being done by 20 percent of the people. Is this where we are at?

I suggest we need to stand back and ask what life is all about. I attended an artist's reception and book signing for Bev Dolittle in March. The benefit was for the Las Vegas Indian Center. A lecture was held in which the artist explained, with slides, how she came to do her camouflage paintings. She and her husband, also an artist, were in advertising when they asked the same questions I asked above.

They quit. Sold everything. Bought a pickup truck, with a shell. They built a stand on top of the shell where they could set up an easel and paint. They toured the western national parks - from Mexico to Alaska - taking slides, feeling nature, and painting.

Those of you which don't recognize the name will probably have seen her pictures. The Circle of Life; Calling the Buffalo; Doubled Back. The paintings which look - at first - like a cluster of aspens; but, looking closely, you find an Indian standing behind the trees.

Afterwards; the Indian Council, cordoned off a section of the parking lot and young women and girls were dancing. Dancing with swirls of skirts and shawls. Hearing with their inner selves the earth mother.

One, in particular, saw none of the crowd. Her world was within her, and the audience keep a respectful distance. Hushed.

As I watched , I too was drawn to the voice she heard. For just a few minutes I was part of her. I was out of the "Glass House". I forgot Client/ Server. I remembered what life was supposed to be.....I wasn't tired.

I wish you could have been with me.......

Then the beeper went off.

Mike Sutton, the author of "No Survivors" said it the best. "No one that I know of ever lay on their death-bed and said '...if I could have just put in a few more days at the office'. The idea of employment is to provide a means to an end, not to be the end."