Atlas’s Burden: The Story of Carrying Too Much
The image of Atlas holding up the sky or the world symbolizes enduring strength and resilience. It’s a powerful metaphor, illustrating the burden of carrying the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. This symbol represents the immense responsibility and suffering imposed on him due to his rebellion, a concept that resonates even in our modern world.
Watching Atlas daily, I started to see myself as him at work. Even though I was at the bottom of the office hierarchy, I felt like I was carrying the weight of the entire office on my shoulders. I got involved in anything and everything, trying to impress my bosses. I ended up with all the thankless jobs in addition to my core work. While initially happy to have much to do, I lost touch with my family and friends. I had no time for books, music, or exercise, which I dearly loved. I lost focus on my personal goals and became aimless. I also gained a lot of weight due to poor diet management.
While travelling by train one day, I came across an exciting message: “Less luggage, more comfort. Make your travel a pleasure!” This message hit me hard, but I realized it was too late. I had already accumulated a lot of physical and mental baggage, and it was challenging to unburden myself — easier said than done. I felt like a solid rock in the sea; only a sharp saw could physically and mentally remove the ‘extra’ fat.
Fast forward to 2024, and I see many youngsters who seem like Atlas. Looking at their faces, I know the world’s weight resting on their shoulders. I can sense the burden they carry. I’m sure they need help, but their ego prevents them from asking for it. They don’t have ‘physical’ people to talk to and seem content with an ‘emotional’ animal beside them and a mobile phone. I believe they are in a gilded cage with no answers. They keep accumulating more and more baggage. Eventually, a time would come when they must unburden themselves and drop the baggage on the wayside. One might call this state freedom, while another might call it truth.
