zaterdag 10 november 2012

King of career counceling

Sometimes I still wonder what I want to do when I grow up. And then it’s always comforting to hear that more people in their thirties face that issue and think they need a coach/retreat on top of mountain/shrink/phd/calling/brainwave to work out the next step.


The depressing thing is that some people seem to never really figure it out. Like Cambodia’s king Norodom Sihanouk who recently died. He was known as  "The King-Father of Cambodia" and held an impressive lists of positions. He was king twice, prince twice, president once and prime minister twice.  He was also a figurehead of the Communist revolution and leader in exile, befriending both the Chinese and Americans at some point. In addition he also gained an allegedly well-deserved reputation as  playboy, as gastronomic and, as if this all was not enough for one life, he even embarked on a film career, producing 19 movies for which he was director, producer, scriptwriter, composer and often leading man. Quite intimidating right? 
 
So I guess my options are still open then. It may be quite challenging to be crowned king, but surely there are different routes to a colourful life and exciting career. 

The King-Father died age 89. Death is viewed as the end of one life and as the beginning of another life here. And one hopes the next one will be better. I wonder what King Norodom wished he could do in his next life. Some people get all the luck though. With hundreds of thousands of people coming to the Royal Palace with flowers and incense and praying for his soul, if lucky, I think he may be able to come back as Obama next time around.