Of course you have to be happy where you work
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A few weeks ago, a bunch of us old chums from the same school were gathered around some coffee mugs and empty plates, lamenting over the state of diarray we have landed ourselves, a decade since we left the old place. Reunions are like that these days, starting off with great joyous pats on the backs and commenting on how we've never quite changed, or, in my case, how well I now look that I'm complemented with a bump in place of my tummy.
And then we catch up a little, exchange name cards (in case we've changed offices again), and someone buys the coffee. A little over an hour later, we're left with depressed sharings of 'whose work sucks the most'. And someone, someone the wisest of all (or at least, the one a little less wise than I am) would loudly claim, 'Well, it's a job, it's work. You're not supposed to be happy where you're working.'
Because, apparently, 'Work is supposed to be suffering.'
I quite heartily disagree. Many many years ago as a school kid with an affinity for seeking up 'quotable quotes', I stumbled upon this piece of ancient wisdom, 'Do what you love and love what you're doing and you'll never work another day in your life.'
That line has driven me to insist that life isn't about studying the top of the notch courses to find a job that sucks but pays well, to provide me with enough dosh so that I can scrimp and save like a wicked Scrooge until 45 years later, to reap the harvest of my hard work. I don't believe work should be all that hard. On the contrary, I really believe if the work gets overtly tiring, then it's time to leave. It just isn't worth it working like a donkey for 45 years of your precious life for the heck of a few million bucks to enjoy in your later years. Sure I may not be rich doing a job that I enjoy doing, but at least it keeps me happy for the 45 years that I'm working, rather than waiting my entire life, grumbling and wallowing in misery over indecisive bosses and promiscous secretaries, or impossible sales targets and stupid customers (the list goes on). If you can be okay and choose to be happy where you are now, with what little material possessions you have, why aim for happiness only at the end of retirement?
So I really think work is meant to be enjoyed.
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Dec03
January 4, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Hmmm. This is exactly why after finishing my 2-year course in Graphic Design I am applying for Biology and Nursing because I’ve realised that even though GD is nice and stylish and pays well…and saying “I’m a Graphic Designer” sounds really good…I won’t be happy doing it for the next 45 years. I can do it part-time but I need another job that will fulfill me. I was thinking about Vet Medicine originally, but who am I kidding? I am 20 years old now and if I only finish the school at 26/27, it’s not very clever career-wise. With Nursing I can start working after BSc already…with Biology I can at least find some lab work even during the studies. And whatever will happen, with my love for biology and medicine these jobs would make me happier than listening to clients ranting and sitting in front of PC 24/7.
And I love the quote…must write it down!
Happy NY 2010 all the way from far away Slovakia in Europe!
January 4, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Hi, I’ve only just stumbled upon your blog a few days ago as I googled something. Read 2 of your posts so far, this one and the one about Christians being ‘holier than thou’…and I’ve whole-heartedly agreed with you on each occasion.
It’s so seldom that we find blogs with less pictures and more words, words which are meaningful, words which have been turned and processed in a person’s mind before it is carefully written down to convey the full message to another person. So I thought I’d best write something here and encourage you, job well done. Keep it up =) thank u for your blog.