By now, you know I think alot about work....and I think too much about work during my commute. Tonight, I was driving home wondering how several generations of folks before mine ever endured holding one...maaayyyyyybee...two jobs in their entire lifetime? In my short professional life of just over 20 years, I have held more jobs at more places than I care to remember. Sure, they have usually been within my chosen professional field, but why so many? When I started thinking about my friends, save one or two, we are all in the same boat....seemingly transient workers willing to pick up and move on the drop of a dime. Even in today's economy, I find myself wondering if the grass is greener someplace else?
Lately, it also feels like I spend a significant amount of time wondering if I work to live or live to work? Perhaps it is my advancing age/wisdom/experience or maybe it is my ADD that sometimes makes me wonder why we spend the vast majority of our lives working. I, for one, am not fortunate enough to find myself with excessive amounts of money left over each pay period after paying all those pesky bills, utilities, mortgage, etc., and wonder when that time will come? Until it does, how do I keep myself rejuvenated in the work I do to have it mean more to me than just a way to keep a roof over my head, my dogs fed, and the occasional little prezzy I might give myself? Is the satisfaction I try to find in my work each and every day enough to fend off the urge to bolt?
Lastly, I think about 2 individuals a lot: a recent college grad who I admire greatly and recently spent some time with and a friend from college who has worked for the same place for over 20 years. The recent college grad described her current job as something she doesn't really enjoy but decent enough with bennys and perks to keep her there. It ain't her dream job, but it meets her needs for now. Why can't she be doing what she REALLLY wants to be doing and what do I have to complain about when I, ostensibly, AM doing what I really want to be doing? Then, my college pal: how in the world does she keep her work....after 20+ years...fresh? Sure she has been promoted and experienced growth within the organization, but I can't imagine what it must be like to work for the same place for more than about 5 years. My record: 6 years.
Will I miss working when retirement comes around? What do folks who live in countries where work is not central to their everyday way of life experience day in and day out? How can I rejuvenate myself rather than letting my Gen X side take over by telling me I need to make a change? Why DO we work so hard and is it truly the great American characteristic we were all taught to strive for as kids growing up?
I love this topic as I think quite a bit about work and what it means to me. Why do we always think of work as only the work we get paid for? Why don't we include the work we do on ourselves or our relationships or the voluteer work we do?
ReplyDeleteAlso, why do we define ourselves by what we do as work?
Myths of Work
1. Work is a four-letter word.
It’s a necessary evil and a way to pay the bills. It’s what we put up with for 8 hours during the day so we can enjoy our lives after work, unless we are too tired.
2. Work as identity.
What we do becomes who we are. It is how we introduce ourselves to others, and often the first question people ask us upon meeting.
3. Work as a last priority.
It is about integration, not segregation. We are meant to enjoy life as much as our work.
MORE MYTHS ABOUT WORK AND SUCCESS:
That our work provides security
That making more money allows us to buy more things, take more vacations
That we need to make more money than our parents
That we aren’t successful unless we are climbing the corporate ladder
We see work as a kind of personal and religious salvation – we worship work
The longer hours we work, the more we will be rewarded and recognized
We see work as a social function – as answering the questions of who we are (that religion used to answer)
One’s professional environment is viewed as a complete family to the detriment of our own family
That corporations will take care of us and be loyal to us
That our careers are more important than our lives
Gail