A person I know just died! He was 44 years old, just like me. He had a good life, his father was wealthy, he studied and had a good job, wife and kids. But now he is dead, that made me wonder about my life.

I was born in a humble family and to help out I started to work when I was barely seventeen. At 1st in Algarve, later on in Germany, then an intermission for a 14 months mandatory army services. While I was there I had my 1st contact with a real computer, the ZX Spectrum was seen as a toy. I started my serious working life with a couple of months in a fertilizers and pesticides reseller and found a computer related job when opening my first bank account. Yes I was 22 years old. I made my very 1st “career” move to this new job an Accounting Office where I was in charge of inputing the data into the system. I did my job, learned more about accounting and IT , for 18 years, with no training, besides my own at home. I was tired, depressed and worn-out with so many deadlines.

It was time to make another move, this time, with some promises on the side. I risked a steady, cosy and secure job, to face a new challenge, 30 minutes away from home, before I was only 2. Here I had/have the chance to travel a little, meet new people, learn even more about IT and added a brand new theme: wine. But I feel I lost the cosiness and the friendly environment I got used to have for 18 years and feel that my life, besides what I’ve learned, didn’t improve.

Looking back I wonder, more and more, how my life would turn out to be if I just refused the change?