Hmmm. The wheels in my sleep deprived, overworked and stressed out brain are spinning- much like a sugar jagged 2 year old after a birthday party. I chipped in for the office powerball pool and can't help but think about what I"d do if work was by choice, rather than by force.
As I read the emails going around about everyone's plans should we win, it just drove home how much I DON'T fit in with the majority of the people I see daily. The guys were all about the sports cars, boats and season skybox seats at sporting events. My boss was all about the shoe and bag collection and helping her family. Almost everyone said they wouldn't work another day. EVER. I got a lot of WTF? replies when this was my response....
I won't be in Monday. Taking Dad to the Mercedes dealer to repay every sacrifice, extra job and generous thing he's done to help me- with interest. And then, I will begin to work again- in a capacity that provides comfort, care and service to those in need.
No desire for a big fancy house, luxury car or more stuff. My dream home is under 2000 sqf, a well designed cottage. In fact, tucked into my bookshelves is a notebook that has the house plan that I clipped out of a magazine 10 years ago. It is just big enough to provide a master suite, dedicated guest room with bath, a great kitchen and a room that would become my craft studio. There's a cozy alcove with built in bookshelves and room for a comfy chair, reading lamp and a table to rest my mug of tea. One floor. Wider hallways and doorways. Shower that could accommodate a wheel chair or walker. Right- small house, less stuff. More life.
But I'm a practical girl. While it's nice to dream about winning numbers, I live in the real world. It's rough, gritty and often cruel- but I can work with that. It is my job, it isn't my Work. Job is soulless, often thankless. But what I see as my Work in the world is the polar opposite. I think the creativity was a gift, given so that I could help others now that I can't physically handle Habitat for Humanity and soup kitchens. There is a lot of comfort and help given to others with a skein of yarn, a crochet hook and a few hours of work.
What does Making A Life look like? If you could release the stranglehold of working for daily survival and do anything at all,what would you do?
1 comment:
The necessity of working for survival is just a fact of survival. The lucky ones use their gifts and talents in the workplace and get paid for them. All the rest of us hope to find amicable work situations where we can make a living and still have the time and energy to follow our dreams. Giving ourselves permission to follow those dreams is the real issue.
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