To Work or Not to Work: That Is the Question
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For most of us life is pretty simple. You grow up, get a job, raise a family, and hopefully have a good life. Some choose to do otherwise. What once was the backbone of our nation, work, seems to be weakening. Attitudes toward work, as well as most things we’ve taken for granted, have drastically changed. You order a small bottle of something for a grocery pickup, and they substitute a gallon size with their apologies. Can’t really predict or count on what’s going to happen when you visit the auto repair shop or attempt a small home renovation.
My mind gets boggled by the myriad of “Help Wanted” signs on almost every business door. I drive down the street by some houses or apartments in the middle of the day and see all the cars that used to be at work at this time of day. I go into stores that have closed check out stations with only one or two open. Restaurants have closed extra days or closed off sections due to a shortage of help. Others have closed everything but the drive-thru.
Where’s everybody? I love to work. I can’t imagine life without something to do, some place to go, maybe a little less so than when I was younger. Us old guys love our free time that we feel we’ve justly deserved, but most of us may need a little part-time or volunteer job to get us up and going instead of hibernating in a recliner like the bear I read about to my wife’s pre-k school the other day.
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I don’t know if I understand all the repercussions or long range effects of people simply not joining or consciously choosing to drop out of the work force. I feel better physically and mentally when I have something to do and something to show for my time. My wife is less likely to grow tired of my presence if I can spend time elsewhere doing something useful.
When I worked full time I enjoyed the friendships and time spent with cohorts. I don’t really miss all the millions of emails and frequent work meetings, but I miss the feeling that I was part of something bigger, and that I made a little difference in somebody’s world. Did I say I liked having free time to take a day trip with the wife to some little country buffet in Boswell, OK called the Lazy Heifer. It’s nice. Pleasant drive. Good food. Nice company.
Still, I’m afraid there’s a world of folks out there who haven’t liked their job and have had a chance to take a break during the pandemic. Surveys say a majority of Americans don’t enjoy their jobs. Go get another one you might enjoy. Use this goofy time to find something where you can make a difference. All the money in the world won’t make you happy or fulfilled if you don’t sense what you’re doing is important. When you put all our jobs and services together and the country is rolling full blast, life and normalcy feel a lot better than, “I’m sorry, we’re short-handed, and I’m not sure we can get the parts for it.”
By Dr. Juan Harrison
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