I really need to continue writing my book: “Taking the toil out of work”  (Working title.  No pun intended…).  I want to have enthusiasm for the work I do.  Part and parcel in gaining this energy is being able to do something that I am interested in and makes use of my knowledge.

Early in life, my mother really ingrained the maxim that I could do anything I set my mind to.  Apparently, I took it to heart, because I still believe it.  The only thing in my way is myself.  If I really want to do something, I will make time for it and improve myself through education and research.  Does thing mean that I am overconfident?  I don’t think so, but then I am biased!  🙂

With work, we find ourselves in a society that values work over many other pieces of what makes us who we are.  I find myself asking the traditional question “what do you do?” any time I meet someone new.  My expectation is that they will tell me how they make a living.  I would be very surprised to hear someone tell me they watch football and love popcorn.  I would wonder how the hell they make a living at that and where to sign up!  I expect them to tell me that they are an accountant, construction worker or engineer.

We each spend in the area of fourty hours a week, some more, some less, working to pay our bills.  Some people are betting at living simply and putting emphasis on other pursuits, such as travel for example, over wordly goods, but they are certainly the exception.  Others balance life outside of work and at work by seperating them completely.  If it is after four o’clock, don’t ask them about work, that is their personal time!  Finally, there are those who seem to have mastered the blend of both and have made their passions their work.   This leads them to WANT to work and takes the “toil” part out of it.  I am still trying to find how I can get to that point.

There is more to this story and I will certainly add to it as we go along.  Hopefully, there will be a few more of you around to read it!

For now, stay interested and interesting!

John