EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS SOMEWHERE
Sunday morning, March 12, 2006, The Sunday edition of the Kansas City Star, in the PARADE magazine, I got to skimming through the article "How Did You Do?", an article on what people earn, and about "Hot Jobs In 2006 and Beyond"..... and the economist/researcher/anthropologist in me, can hear the wheels turning in this cavernous part of my brain where I store information on social reform and studies...
As a professional within the community, I fall under the heading of "Communications Coordinator", which means I am a Switchboard Operator for a large company which operates in the Energy Industry. It is a privately owned "utility company." Not that my title/s define me. I see myself in a much broader professional sense, because my personal interest lies in writing, researching, and digging into Motivational/Anthropological studies.
What does it all mean?
When I ask that question, the implications fall into a much broader category than MY life. I am wondering how we ever got caught up in this system which America has evolved (devolved?) to. We are all expected to finish High School and go to work or college, get a degree, figure out what we want to do with our lives, and then move along that pathway, marrying, having children, retire, enjoy the "Golden Years" and then pass on, leaving our children "a rich heritage."
I am not against that idea, nor can I feel I should make fun of it, or put it down. I DO, however, feel like picking it apart and doing some analyzing of it.
I am 57 years old, and haven't a college degree under my belt. Nor have I been to a business school or any other, to learn a trade. There isn't any one trade which I feel strongly or passionately enough about, to spend years at it, putting together a life, a reputation in the community in that field, and, well, you know the rest of THAT story.
But in the process of reading this book by Richard J. Leider, THE POWER OF PURPOSE: CREATING MEANING IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK, I am considering the fact that there is more to life than JUST GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY AND DOING MY JOB. There IS more to life, than just settling into a life of routine, and being a productive member of society. There IS more to life than just paying the bills, to living what I have always heard is THE AMERICAN DREAM: having a significant other, maybe marriage, kids, 2 cars, a 2-car-garage, checking and savings accounts and lots of credit cards, and going on a vacation every year. The "American Dream" always included "a house of your own", too!
But, now, at 57, I am thinking that I haven't been satisfied with my life, that it hasn't been filled with what should be called "fulfillment."
My life hasn't the purpose it should!
How do we find or achieve such a thing?
These young people in American Idol are seeming to be thinking that it is "the break!" when you win over all the others, and get a recording contract.
On SURVIVOR, one person beats out everybody else in a cutthroat game which has nothing to do with suviving and defeating the elements!
Television and movies and the sports fields are all like this! Each "game" is about defeating or beating someone else out! Somebody wins, somebody loses! It's all about competition!
It has gotten to be that way, in the American work arena, also. Competition! Somebody wins, somebody loses!
I am not going to tell WHAT I earn, and must respect the professional boundaries set upon me by my field/industry/company whom I work for- and that, through a "contractor" company. Suffice it to say it would be silly of me to think about going out into the public arena to look for a better paying job in the same field!
I will be doing what I am doing, for a while. Buwhere do we go from here? Is what life is all about, supposed to be a meaning that when you get or find a comfortable place to be in, you should not rock the boat, not makes waves or ripples, and don't be doing or saying anything to make anyone else angry or uncomfortable? Life should be a pleasure to live. Whether you are a blogger, or just someone who sits in front of the tv all day everyday watching sports, life is really all about you. Not your husband or wife or kids or anyone else. But what if I need to get away from this industry I am a part of? The energy/utility field? Electric and gas service? I am not going to continue to slave my life away at an 8:30 to 5:30 job. I am going to change this picture, this portrait of my life. There is more to it than the routine which has been my life for the last 5 years. People change their minds, their lives, their career fields. Not to be contrary to anyone. But simply because they recognize that the time is now. And by all means, BE HERE NOW. Not locked into yesterday or some old way of doing or thinking things. Think things THROUGH.
As a professional within the community, I fall under the heading of "Communications Coordinator", which means I am a Switchboard Operator for a large company which operates in the Energy Industry. It is a privately owned "utility company." Not that my title/s define me. I see myself in a much broader professional sense, because my personal interest lies in writing, researching, and digging into Motivational/Anthropological studies.
What does it all mean?
When I ask that question, the implications fall into a much broader category than MY life. I am wondering how we ever got caught up in this system which America has evolved (devolved?) to. We are all expected to finish High School and go to work or college, get a degree, figure out what we want to do with our lives, and then move along that pathway, marrying, having children, retire, enjoy the "Golden Years" and then pass on, leaving our children "a rich heritage."
I am not against that idea, nor can I feel I should make fun of it, or put it down. I DO, however, feel like picking it apart and doing some analyzing of it.
I am 57 years old, and haven't a college degree under my belt. Nor have I been to a business school or any other, to learn a trade. There isn't any one trade which I feel strongly or passionately enough about, to spend years at it, putting together a life, a reputation in the community in that field, and, well, you know the rest of THAT story.
But in the process of reading this book by Richard J. Leider, THE POWER OF PURPOSE: CREATING MEANING IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK, I am considering the fact that there is more to life than JUST GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY AND DOING MY JOB. There IS more to life, than just settling into a life of routine, and being a productive member of society. There IS more to life than just paying the bills, to living what I have always heard is THE AMERICAN DREAM: having a significant other, maybe marriage, kids, 2 cars, a 2-car-garage, checking and savings accounts and lots of credit cards, and going on a vacation every year. The "American Dream" always included "a house of your own", too!
But, now, at 57, I am thinking that I haven't been satisfied with my life, that it hasn't been filled with what should be called "fulfillment."
My life hasn't the purpose it should!
How do we find or achieve such a thing?
These young people in American Idol are seeming to be thinking that it is "the break!" when you win over all the others, and get a recording contract.
On SURVIVOR, one person beats out everybody else in a cutthroat game which has nothing to do with suviving and defeating the elements!
Television and movies and the sports fields are all like this! Each "game" is about defeating or beating someone else out! Somebody wins, somebody loses! It's all about competition!
It has gotten to be that way, in the American work arena, also. Competition! Somebody wins, somebody loses!
I am not going to tell WHAT I earn, and must respect the professional boundaries set upon me by my field/industry/company whom I work for- and that, through a "contractor" company. Suffice it to say it would be silly of me to think about going out into the public arena to look for a better paying job in the same field!
I will be doing what I am doing, for a while. Buwhere do we go from here? Is what life is all about, supposed to be a meaning that when you get or find a comfortable place to be in, you should not rock the boat, not makes waves or ripples, and don't be doing or saying anything to make anyone else angry or uncomfortable? Life should be a pleasure to live. Whether you are a blogger, or just someone who sits in front of the tv all day everyday watching sports, life is really all about you. Not your husband or wife or kids or anyone else. But what if I need to get away from this industry I am a part of? The energy/utility field? Electric and gas service? I am not going to continue to slave my life away at an 8:30 to 5:30 job. I am going to change this picture, this portrait of my life. There is more to it than the routine which has been my life for the last 5 years. People change their minds, their lives, their career fields. Not to be contrary to anyone. But simply because they recognize that the time is now. And by all means, BE HERE NOW. Not locked into yesterday or some old way of doing or thinking things. Think things THROUGH.
posted by Skyephire at 10:30 AM
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