October 24, 2006
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We dig ourselves deeper and deeper into hectic routines. We sacrifice more and more of our time in the pursuit of material prosperity. Money and "success" must be chased at all costs, and if that means our personal lives suffer, then so be it. That carrot on a string draws us ever onward, building that nest-egg, struggling for that ultimate promotion, just itching for that day when we can retire and finally start enjoying ourselves.
Quite frankly, most of us don't have jobs that are prticularly inspiring. There are some jobs that, to me, would justify absorbing most of one's focus -- international humanitarian work or something, perhaps. But really, if you're working at a warehouse, selling shoes, or balancing the books at a paper company, is that job really worth the level of importance we give it?
We busy ourselves with a million little things, but do we have an overarching reason behind them? Children are increasinly isolated from the basic, wander-the-neighbourhood, time-with-the-parents upbringing and shoehorned into battery-powered edutainment. How can we expect young people to be excited about learning when the only incentive we offer them is big jobs with big money but no reason? Money is not a reason, it's a means to an end.
Anyhow, enough of the ranting. I was put in mind of all this by Take Back Your Time Day, which is today. I haven't read all their material, so I don't know whether I fully endorse what they're doing, but it seems to me like any initiative we can find that encourages us to live life for a reason, and cut back on the things we do simply to "get ahead" is a great idea.
Here's hoping you find a little time to yourself today, to try and remember and contribute to what's really important.
Take care
-J-
Comments (5)
I'm very blessed to have a job that I love.
Difficult for me to relate to this one. I've got the best job and it takes hardly any time at all.
I have lots of jobs/businesses and no time or money. I don't have time to go and get one that pays!
I enjoy my job immensely. And I get a whole lot of time off to do exactly what I love. Either way, at work or at rest (though sometimes not so much) life is usually pretty awesome (until all the bad stuff takes over, which happens every now and then, no matter who you are or what you do).
But there is a price. The price is uncertainty. Apart from my part time temp work with CBC, I am, by and large, a self-employed content creator, which means that I spend a lot of time creating things that are fun to create, researching market potential, or pitching ideas to potential clients. Some people I know express that they are worried about me because I do not have a stable 9-5 job. Here's the kicker: I love not having a permanent job!
I would argue that my chosen profession is more stable than a 9-5, because my quality of life is through the roof, my job doesn't make me depressed, the level of stress is lower, and because I pretty much choose, through my level of output, how much money I can make... The biggest upside is that no one employer has a controlling interest in how I spend my time. Yet I make a reasonably satisfactory salary, which I can increase any time I feel like I need extra. Call me crazy, but the inferior nature of a 9-5 job could never replace the beloved chaos that is my working life.
Doing what I love is more important to me than money, but I also really really really enjoy money, and know I need it to support my family. I definitely find it easier to work up the initiative to do what I love faster, and with a higher degree of quality, when somebody says they'll pay me for my work... because at the end of the day, it is still a sacrifice of my time, and therefore work.
Compensation and reward are so under-rated these days. Getting money is fantastic, as long as it doesn't take over one's purpose, or one's ability to experience the finer things in life.
-B
It's funny how if you ask people these questions, they are so certain it all has nothing to do with them at all. I think we need some spy cams!