We all have been living a near-perfect life: Get a stable job, get promotions, meet targets, and basically behave like a well-trained rat on a corporate treadmill, exactly what society expects us to do.
I was also like you a few months back: a settled life, a daily run to the office and back, just like the rat in this video.
Until one day it hit me: If I keep running like this, I may or may not reach financial freedom, but I will definitely reach the hospital first.
So instead of the rat race, I took inspiration from the Elephant Race, held annually in Kerala.
1️⃣ What the Elephant Race taught me :
It’s simple: Build long-term assets while you’re still young, plan for a steady cash flow when you quit, then leave the toxic hustle and design your own life.
Elephants don’t run. They move steadily, powerfully, without chasing anyone’s approval. That’s how I’ve shaped my life now: slow and steady.
2️⃣ Why I opted out of the Rat Race :
I noticed a common trend during the last 2 years, when I was planning to take a break: 70% of us burn out before 35.
Almost 1 hour per day of drive to the office, Salaries grow @10% while inflation grows @15% & we are never ahead in the rat race. And there’s no social security, so everyone is running scared.
Everyone around me, be it my colleagues, bosses or seniors, everyone is scared, because they’re also running their own rat race.
I realised no employer will slow down for me, so if I want peace, I have to claim it on my own.
3️⃣ What Changed When I Entered the Elephant Race :
My health improved, I could breathe again, and for the first time, enjoy the view after choosing the elephant race.
My mind opened up. I had creativity, ideas, and clarity in my life.
My relationships deepened, I had enough time for family, chai, farm activities, and morning and evening walks.
4️⃣ The Truth I Learned Too Late :
If you run till 60, you won’t reach happiness, but You’ll surely get hypertension and BP issues.
So I have made my choice: Work fast till 40 & Live a slow life after that.
I’ve built sufficient savings, I have a place to call home, and I’ve created enough cash flow to live peacefully.
So now I walk like that elephant, steady, calm, unbothered.