I woke up to a work-related fire drill this morning. It was not the garden variety style, but something that initially seemed serious. Luckily, it wasn’t. But it got me thinking: I have been paying a lot of anxiety tax lately.
Nobody likes taxes. But as Seneca pointed out, life’s annoyances are unavoidable fees for the privilege of being human. So why not embrace them?
The universe isn’t running a charity here, folks. You want nice things? You have to pay.
Want ambition? Great! Your tax bill includes 3 AM panic attacks and explaining to friends why you’re cancelling plans again.
Craving success? Wonderful! Please pay your routine tax at the monotony counter. Yes, that’s 832 consecutive days of the same damn work routine, because “consistency compounds”.
Seeking growth? Fantastic! Your imposter syndrome payment is due whenever you level up. That voice screaming, “You don’t belong here” is just your receipt.
Love and connection? Beautiful! Your vulnerability tax can be paid in tears, awkward conversations, and the occasional emotional hangover.
Fitness enthusiasts, your pain tax is collected in sweat, soreness, and having pizza-themed night dreams.
Creative types, please submit your rejection tax via crushed hopes, unanswered emails, and explaining to relatives why your art “hasn’t taken off yet.”
The trick isn’t avoiding these payments—it’s making them with a smile, maybe even a laugh. Because honestly, what’s the alternative? A safe, predictable existence where nothing extraordinary happens?
No thanks. I’ll pay my dues and enjoy the messy, magnificent ride.
As the old Scottish proverb says: “Enjoy life, for you are a long time dead”.
Further reading: What Do You Want to Want? · Chocolate vs Abs: No Solutions, Only Tradeoffs · Don’t Compare Your Outsides to the Insides of Others
