The Quitters Had a Point

It’s a chill weekend and I decided to just spend my free time playing games. I didn’t want to use my computer today since I’ve been on my laptop every single day for work and I really needed a break from the big screen.

I know there’s not that much difference when I switch to my phone... it’s still a screen 😂 but hey, it’s smaller, so I’ll count it as my little screen detox!

_{screenshot of my town from the game Dream Town Story}

I scrolled through my phone and found the game I hadn’t touched in months because, well, life got busy. I wanted to get back into it, so I clicked and waited for it to load.

The game’s called Dream Town Story. It’s a simulation game where you build your own town from scratch, help residents live their lives, and attract tourists. It’s actually a fun game. I got hooked to the point that I even convinced some of my friends and family to play it too.

My town’s been thriving from months of playing. Most residents already have their own careers with well-paying jobs. I always make sure they’re earning enough so they can pay taxes as well. You know, the bigger the tax money, the more I can grow the town and add better things, just like in real life.

But then, I noticed something.

I noticed a little bubble with “…” on top of some houses, so I got curious and tapped it. Turns out, my residents were thinking about changing jobs.

I got annoyed when not just one, but several residents wanted to change jobs. They already had the best or highest paying jobs, and yet, they wanted to switch to something else.

My reaction?

As someone who manages the game, it felt so frustrating to see those notifications.

Why do you guys want to change jobs?? This is the dream!! I wanted my residents to succeed financially.

So I put the game down for a while, grabbed some coffee, and started thinking: Did I go wrong somewhere? Why would they want to change jobs? Was it my fault? Did I assign them the wrong ones?

And then it hit me.

Maybe it’s not about the money for them. Maybe their dream shifted. Maybe they're simply content with less.

And suddenly, it reminded me of people I actually know... friends, relatives, family... who gave up high-paying jobs to pursue something else. Something more fulfilling. Something that aligned better with their priorities.

I haven’t been in their shoes though, because I still chase high-paying jobs 😂 and I don’t think I’ve even reached the highest paying one yet. But then again… would I ever trade that for something else? I don’t know.

Would you trade your highest paying job for something lower? If yes, what would be your reason?

As for me, maybe I’d do it for more time with my family (assuming I already have enough savings and investments to sustain my lifestyle) or maybe I’d give it up to avoid stress and travel more.

Either way, that little scenario in the game made me realize that success looks different for everyone. What feels like the “dream job” for one person might mean very little to someone else.

I even remember telling my relatives back then, whenever they asked why I didn’t pursue a higher position in teaching, especially since I was offered that role several times before I left, my answer was always the same: it’s not about climbing higher.

Sometimes, it’s about finding where you feel at peace and where your fulfillment truly is.

And so, I returned to my game and clicked a lower-paying job that matched my residents’ way of living. Maybe it's not about whether we aim higher or settle lower. Perhaps it's simply about what kind of life we really want to build for ourselves.