These last years have been a pain in the butt. After some time of unemployment I got a job that seemed promising but really was like working at a madhouse.
Without organisation and a boss that had no competence in running the organisation on a daily basis but still had to interfere all the time. I finally had to leave due to burn out syndrome. It was either leave or die.
After that I moved from Stockholm to Trelleborg, and got a temp job at Malmö Stad. It was a job I really enjoyed, but since they had no money in their budget for lengthing my employment I was out of job by January this year. Since then I have been on the dole. A tough blow to my economy, lost 60% of my income over night.
Apart from the job situation, my health has deteriorated. I have been diagnosed with diabetes and Crohns. Since January 2019 I have lost 18 kg in weight, almost 25%.
The thing that has kept me on my feet is my family, my dog and my standup.
I really looked forward to performing in UK in April, at a couple of club gigs via Mirth Control, and the Bath Comedy festival. When writing this the border to Denmark has been closed, and the nearest airport from Trelleborg in Sweden is Copenhagen Denmark. Also even if I could be able to get to Stockholm, a travel for 6 hours, there won’t be a guarantee to get to UK or even be able to go home again due to corona-quarantines.
So why the f**k don’t I just give up?
Because I love standup so much. I will not give it up until I am too old or sick to get up on stage.
My solution: retire from the labour-market. Become a retiree, a senior citizen. When I do I don’t have to get the society’s approval, or risk they demand that I take a job I can’t do-like driving a lorry or work as sailor-and use the last years I have to focus on my standup.
One day the corona-virus won’t affect our everyday life as much as today. There will be no travel bans. The venues will re-open. And when that day comes I will be up on those stages, doing what I love the most: make people laugh.
Until then, live long and prosper. Na-noo,na-noo.
/Tomas A
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