Pleasure Practice 1 - The Chiropractor

Chapter A

Tania had no intention of returning. She had had enough – that job had left her wrecked inside and out, and two years had been enough of it.

It would have turned out better if she had stayed in her old company. Two years ago Tania was a copy editor at a small advertising company. She had nice colleagues, a centrally located small office in a lively neighborhood full of good places to eat, and stable working hours. Then she had decided, she did not remember exactly why or how, that she needed a change. Probably she thought at 35 years old she had to progress, grow, move forwards in her career. What a big pile of bullshit! Why did society want you to always get better, go bigger, advance? She now wished she had disregarded the invisible pressure and just stayed put.

She had looked for a new job in a different, bigger and glossier advertising agency. They offered her a position as account manager, and she took the chance.

From the start it was disaster. The senior account executive she worked for was a tyrant, her colleagues all thought they were Don Draper (or Batman) in the flesh, and she had virtually no time to eat lunch anywhere except at her desk. She had almost no time for sports anymore, except sometimes on Saturday or Sunday for a quick run. She did not meet her friends as much as before, and had no friends at the office because no one had time for anything other than work. She was not at home to spend the evenings with her husband Fred, they saw each other mostly just for a quick bite, an organizational chat about house logistics, and a goodnight kiss before sleep.

Wonderful step forward...

Tania tried to keep it going. She was a strong woman. She had to prove herself in the new company and the new position. But the symptoms of newfound stress had arrived quickly. She gained weight due to all the fast food; she slept worse and worse, became more irritable; her back started to ache.

She and F drifted apart, their sex life was non-existent and they almost did not speak about anything other than groceries and appointments. Imagine that F and her were a dream couple before her new job. Fred was a loving husband, they had a wonderful, fulfilling sex life, no kids, much time on their own and with friends, great hobbies and a beautiful house. All gone in those last two years. Now they were room mates – but Fred was discreet and wanted harmony, and T had had no time to think in two years. So they went on.

Tania had finally taken the time to think about herself though, after a long buildup. One day it all exploded, she pushed everything that was on her desk to the floor in one sweep of her hand, shouted to the senior executive that she was leaving, and crashed the door going out.

That was it. She was not returning. It was OVER.