In the era of high-speed Internet, everyone is rushing for success and sometimes we almost forget to enjoy the harmony of life. It is sad, but nevertheless true, that some people who find success at work have no one with whom to celebrate that success, and no enriching memories of the life they overlooked while attaining their goal.
Korakod Anantasomboon, Siam Cement Group's assistant manager of corporate brand management, believes strongly that being a success at work does not mean a person is successful in life. Nor does a figure in a bank account indicate a degree of personal happiness.
In Korakod's reckoning, life has two different forms: a fast mode and a slow mode, and he believes the art of living involves achieving a balance in this paradox.
"A work-life balance is crucial. To achieve this balance, we need skills in both art and science.
"For me, I love travelling. I was once a freelance tour guide. This is when I learnt to enjoy the slow mode of life rather than simply working and working," he says.
For Korakod, discovering a balance in the life-work paradox came as he recovered from a life-threatening illness. Suffering cancer of the lymph glands, he underwent chemotherapy last year. It brought a new meaning to his life and taught him the value of true friendship. Not only did his employer, Siam Cement Group, pay him a full salary for the 10 months he spent in hospital, but he also found himself surrounded by people offering support.
"My illness was reversible through the combined efforts of my caregivers, family and friends, and my will to recover. Undergoing chemotherapy gave me plenty of time to reconsider my life. Life is not all about work and money. We still have the ones we love, and a need to be loved. Spending quality time with them and making them happy can be valuable beyond price," he says.
To hold on to cheerful memories, Korakod collects cards from the places he has visited in his travels. He has huge numbers of cards collected not only from interesting places, but also from special occasions, such as the 100th anniversary Coca Cola, and collections featuring Harry Potter, Lady Gaga and Vin Diesel.
"These cards bring me pleasure and good memories every time I see them. Happiness, the highest well-being, can be found in everything. It is simple. Find what you love and enjoy it. Life is short, spend it wisely," he says.
Sasikarn Watthanachan is a communications professional. She may be contacted at executiveunseen@yahoo.com.