Friends - First of all, I must beg your forbearance for my continued lack of follow up on comments - my computer seems to be out of sorts, forcing me to reinstall entire programs (if you can believe this, I am currently in Explorer because Opera will not allow me to respond to your issues). Indulge me, I seem to have found a way forward again.
Returning to work has been both easy and hard - easy in that I finally have a team in place that more than dealt with all of the issues that came up (although I did still have 361 e-mails to roll through); difficult in that everything absolutely just hits you in the face upon your return.
It is hard as well, because being away - truly away, without any contact or knowledge of what has been going on in your absence, brings perspective.
Perspective can be a dangerous thing. Yes, it allows us to see things for what they truly are. But it also has us ask the question "Why?" a great deal more than if we are constantly in the mix of things. It also gives us a wider view, helping us - me, anyway - to look at something in the context of the larger set of activities that is Life.
I met with my friend in another department for coffee this morning, as we have met for the last year once a week. He is seriously considering another job opportunity. We walked through the various reasons why one would want to leave or stay. As I listened to him, what I heard buried beneath his questions and concerns was need and desire to be and feel useful. That, I suggested, was the thing that he needed to listen to - whether he stayed or went. That was what he was really looking for.
What am I really looking for? That is the question, is it not? It is certainly not more money - more money helps, to be sure, but at least one study suggests that maximum happiness from income is achieved around $70,000 - and I exceeded that a long time ago. Nor is it necessarily this career field - yes, I am doing good work, but it is not work that comes from passion but rather from necessity.
Nor is it necessarily purposeful work - at least in the way most use that word. My work may have purpose, just not a larger application.
Yes, perspective can be a dangerous thing. More and more, I discover what I do not wish to do.
And even that may be termed progress.
Yannow I went through my whole career and never found out what I wanted to do. I just had a series of jobs and never any real 'career'. My relationship with employers was that they didn't own me, they only rented my services, and when we conflicted on that - my services were withdrawn and I moved on. Sometimes I wonder if I missed anything.
ReplyDeletePut out your fires TB! Good to see ya back again!
It is definitely progress.
ReplyDeleteGlen, I am working on reconciling myself to the fact that this will probably be true for me as well e.g. I will never do a job that I am truly passionate about. Which, as you say, is maybe okay and perhaps the way the world works -after all, it does ensure that I can change jobs if needed instead of being always married to one.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to be back, thank you. Am working on beating down the fires.
I think so too, Linda. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo good that you have a team--real stress reducer.
ReplyDeleteIt is Deb - nice to know I can unplug and things continue on.
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