Sunday Thoughts (work)
“That’s why it’s called ‘work’.”
I’m not sure what menial chore I was complaining about, but my dad dropped this little bit of wisdom on me once.
I probably was grousing about mowing the lawn or something.
Now, I don’t mean to diminish the value of hard work. It’s cliché to say it “builds character.”
But I believe it does.
Still, if your Sunday is filled with dread because Monday is coming and you can’t bear the thought of going to work tomorrow, it’s time to take stock.
I’ve had some crummy jobs over the years. And some great ones too.
I think if it weren’t for the lousy ones, I might not appreciate how terrific the good ones were.
Leaving a job is never easy. And I certainly don’t recommend just up and quitting without a backup plan, unless your safety is at risk. Even if you have savings.
Not in this economy.
Because jumping from the frying pan into the fire of unemployment is something you shouldn’t do on purpose.
But you should know the signs when it’s time to start looking.
To me, if your job is putting your health in danger – through depression, insomnia, headaches, frequent illness – you need a plan. No paycheck is worth sacrificing your health.
This is also true about your relationships. If you’re coming home miserable, or agonizing about going back, it can be a marriage killer. Don’t let this happen to you.
Not every job is a good fit. Even good companies may not be right for you. If you can’t muster some passion for what you’re doing – even if you like your boss, the mission and your co-workers – this is not a good sign.
The decision to leave a job can be gut-wrenching. But so can waking up one day and feeling like you’ve stagnated, or you’re stuck.
And you realize you’ve been that way for years. Or you’ve wasted a good portion of your life.
While they do call it “work” for a reason, there’s no reason you shouldn’t feel good about what you do.
If you’re retired, you can still make up for lost time in this area. Volunteering is nearly guaranteed to give you a sense of reward and passion.
And it’s a guaranteed health enhancer to give back in ways that feel rewarding.
Even if the actual work itself is sweaty, tiring or busy.
I don’t know if walking, bathing or cleaning up after shelter dogs is anyone’s idea of glamorous.
But when I retire, you can bet I’ll carry over my passion for what I’m doing now and direct that energy towards helping a few animals who could use a break.
That’s all the reward I need.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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