How many of us take life for granted? And how many take work for granted? I bet a lot of people who are asked the questions - "Do you take life for granted?" or "Do you take your work/job for granted?", answer them in the positive. Most of us tend to consider work to be just a daily routine/a drag/a drudgery etc. We donot probably appreciate what we do. In our quest for more, we probably forget the proverb - "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.". I am not saying that all of us fail in that quest, but the ones that do get hit real bad.
In our quest for more, it could be that we pester our supervisors for a better job profile or it could be that we seek our fortunes elsewhere. What we end up doing is considering the present to be hardly exciting/interesting.
Something happened that changed my perspective towards work completely.
It was a bright and sunny Wednesday morning. Even though the air was filled with the smell of warm California summer, I headed towards my car in a not very pleasant mood. My job seemed to me exactly how I have described above. Not that my job is bad or anything - analyzing the dynamics of a real-time system that has lots of cash flowing through it poses interesting problems many a time. But it can become a pain in the behind at times because of some mindless bureaucracy. The previous day involved some intense action at work and I really did not cherish going back to the same that day. I was wishing for a better profile/a wider range of authority. The roads in my apartment complex were being re-layed. Because of which, I had parked my car in one of the streets around my complex. I was heading towards my car when at one intersection, there was an old man, about 55 years probably, sitting on a bench with a cigarette in his hand. We greeted each other and commented on the beautiful weather that was given to us by Mother Nature. As I turned away towards my car, he made a statement that probably has changed the way I look at things now. He said "Real lucky to have a job, ain't ya!". At that moment, lots of thoughts entered my head.I really did not know how to react to that at that point because I was expecting another heated discussion at work that day, that too early in the morning (not a nice way to start the day!).
Nevertheless, I replied "Yeah!" and I made my way towards my car and sped off in it. On my way to office, I began analyzing that comment of his. It was not the statement, but the tone of his voice that made me do it. It seemed to me that he was unemployed at that time. Not many employed people on a Wednesday morning sit on a bench at an intersection and comment in such a manner. He probably had a job sometime ago. Due to some reason - a sickness or an inexplicable whim of a higher up in his organization or whatever be it, he probably was laid off. He probably had not told his family about his termination of employment. Or his social security money was not being given to him every month. His family probably had to survive on his dwindling savings. He was probably roaming around the streets of Anaheim searching for a job but in vain.
I make quite a decent living. My everyday job schedule, is not all that monotonous. Some of the issues I analyze does require usage of grey matter - they are not very straightforward! One mindless bureaucrat should not be ruining my view of my job. I told myself that moment, that I would not let one person's views about an issue that is inconsequential in the broader way of things, come in the way of my daily work. I should not take my job for granted and not let someone else take my work for granted. Every job is there for a reason and it must be respected for that effect. I will bury the hatchet with anyone who comes up with a idea that opposes mine. I will go to work, each day a different person with a BIG broad smile on my face, happy for the fact that I have a job.
I really wish that others do the same as well, because, believe me it will make you feel like a different person...a better person!
P.S: It may seem like mindless gyaan (advice) to many, but it is small things such as this that changes peoples lives!
In our quest for more, it could be that we pester our supervisors for a better job profile or it could be that we seek our fortunes elsewhere. What we end up doing is considering the present to be hardly exciting/interesting.
Something happened that changed my perspective towards work completely.
It was a bright and sunny Wednesday morning. Even though the air was filled with the smell of warm California summer, I headed towards my car in a not very pleasant mood. My job seemed to me exactly how I have described above. Not that my job is bad or anything - analyzing the dynamics of a real-time system that has lots of cash flowing through it poses interesting problems many a time. But it can become a pain in the behind at times because of some mindless bureaucracy. The previous day involved some intense action at work and I really did not cherish going back to the same that day. I was wishing for a better profile/a wider range of authority. The roads in my apartment complex were being re-layed. Because of which, I had parked my car in one of the streets around my complex. I was heading towards my car when at one intersection, there was an old man, about 55 years probably, sitting on a bench with a cigarette in his hand. We greeted each other and commented on the beautiful weather that was given to us by Mother Nature. As I turned away towards my car, he made a statement that probably has changed the way I look at things now. He said "Real lucky to have a job, ain't ya!". At that moment, lots of thoughts entered my head.I really did not know how to react to that at that point because I was expecting another heated discussion at work that day, that too early in the morning (not a nice way to start the day!).
Nevertheless, I replied "Yeah!" and I made my way towards my car and sped off in it. On my way to office, I began analyzing that comment of his. It was not the statement, but the tone of his voice that made me do it. It seemed to me that he was unemployed at that time. Not many employed people on a Wednesday morning sit on a bench at an intersection and comment in such a manner. He probably had a job sometime ago. Due to some reason - a sickness or an inexplicable whim of a higher up in his organization or whatever be it, he probably was laid off. He probably had not told his family about his termination of employment. Or his social security money was not being given to him every month. His family probably had to survive on his dwindling savings. He was probably roaming around the streets of Anaheim searching for a job but in vain.
I make quite a decent living. My everyday job schedule, is not all that monotonous. Some of the issues I analyze does require usage of grey matter - they are not very straightforward! One mindless bureaucrat should not be ruining my view of my job. I told myself that moment, that I would not let one person's views about an issue that is inconsequential in the broader way of things, come in the way of my daily work. I should not take my job for granted and not let someone else take my work for granted. Every job is there for a reason and it must be respected for that effect. I will bury the hatchet with anyone who comes up with a idea that opposes mine. I will go to work, each day a different person with a BIG broad smile on my face, happy for the fact that I have a job.
I really wish that others do the same as well, because, believe me it will make you feel like a different person...a better person!
P.S: It may seem like mindless gyaan (advice) to many, but it is small things such as this that changes peoples lives!
2 comments:
Good one, Du! nice perspective - but thats what it really is - perspective. Its not that people take their jobs or lives for granted, its just that people strive for more. If i dont have a job, i want one; if i have a job, i want a better one. Its not so much that i dont respect my current position, its more of me desiring something more. There is a difference between being discontent with your life and being ambitious. Sometimes this line gets a little blurred, but more often than not, i think its the latter.
Kinda similar on the lines of what I was thinking, but I guess it came out a li'l differently. My point was be happy with what you have first, before being over-zealous for something you don't. Strive for more, but donot let greed in your way and donot neglect what you already have, in the process! :D
There are people with no present. Think of their examples before you diss yours. Maybe toooo deep coming from someone like me?!
Post a Comment