Take a step back

The world we are living in nowadays changes fast and can be tough to keep up with for an increasing amount of people. The expectations from the society are not easy to live up to!

Starting off with a good education is not enough for most companies. Besides your study, you should be participating in all kind of activities like being in the board of management of some study organization, been on an exchange program, perhaps do a second or even a third master course, and the list continues. Of course, social skills and personal development is a must, so activities as sports, participating in a student organizations and maybe even play a music instrument are not necessary but very much appreciated. When leaving your university at an early age, you are ready for the job market. At least, that is what you would expect. But what experience do you have in the business field? Right! None! So, you start at a basic salary while a trainee ship is all you could get at this stage of your career. Another two years of study, and you’d better pass all the exams, otherwise you are out!

Finally after two years, when you have proven yourself and getting that contract and salary raise you have been working so hard for, you realize that turning to the age of twenty five years should not be passed by silently. Besides, it is a good occasion to announce to your friends that you are going steady for a while now and that you and your partner are ready for some serious commitment. So, reasons enough to throw a huge party!

The day after the party you start wondering how you could not have seen it coming. The news was huge and you are still not sure whether you are ready for it or not. You feel happiness, but again also the pressure you have been facing ever since… you can’t even remember. But nobody blames you. After all, becoming a dad is not an easy job!

Sad but true, but today I read in the newspaper (Volskrant, 4th of July) that being in the age range of twenty five till forty five, means you are in the ‘risk’ group where the number one causes of dead is suicide. We live in a country with so many choices and opportunities and still we reach the amazing amount of 1.514 suicides a year. That is an average of four persons a day…