Thursday, June 25, 2015

Please Don't Ask Me What I Do


It's one of the first questions we ask someone new, when we meet.  "What do you do for a living?"  Uck.  This question has always made me feel kind of like I need to issue a disclaimer.  Like "I'm a health unit clerk, but that's just until I figure out what I want to really do with my life."  It feels kind of unfair that so much of my identity is wrapped up in what I do for a living, when  I feel like my job has so little in common with who I am.  I write, I like to cook things from scratch, I love nature and walking outside, and watching birds, I blog, I love prowling used bookstores.  None of these things are related to my job.

Is there anything wrong with not loving your career?  I don't think so.  I think it's possible to have a job which is just that, a job.  (As long as you give a 100% while you're there and try to have a good attitude.)  Trust me, if I could afford to just stay home and blog, and craft, and cook all day, I'd definitely be doing that, instead of working as a HUC.  

So what's a girl to do?  I think you need to feel free to add that disclaimer, like, "I'm a health unit clerk, but if I had my way, I'd just read and blog and explore nature all the time."  I'm guessing people would be more inclined to ask me what kind of books I like than what a health unit clerk does.  And when you meet new people, be conscious that most people have some deep inner stirring that is probably totally unrelated to where their paycheck comes.  Ask deeper questions, like "What would you be doing if money was no object?" or "What are you passionate about." or "So if you could get a redo, would you still have chosen the same career field?"  Some people love they're job and they'd stick with it, but I bet you'd be surprised how many people would have chosen a different way.

And most of all, keep working towards your dreams.  Just because you're not passionate about your current job, doesn't mean you'll never find one you are passionate about.

So what are you passionate about?

5 comments:

  1. Outdoors, Family, Art, Books, Gardening, and blogging. ;) I really like this post Kaylee!

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  2. Here's what I tell people, especially those who are so wrapped up in their jobs they can't see anything else..."I work to live, not live to work. This job is not my life. It allows me to do the things I love to do, just not when I want to do them!!" Then I retired and I still don't have all the time I want. rmgsummers@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Great mantra! I know I'd rather have less money and more free time than be a slave to a job. :)

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  3. Here's what I tell people, especially those who are so wrapped up in their jobs they can't see anything else..."I work to live, not live to work. This job is not my life. It allows me to do the things I love to do, just not when I want to do them!!" Then I retired and I still don't have all the time I want. rmgsummers@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete