“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work another day in your life”
Confucius
Some say the above words were not uttered by the sage from ancient China, some say he did say it, but meant them in a different context. But, four or five years in to my working life, these words made perfect sense, to me. Start loving your job or choose a profession you love, and you’ll never get up on a Monday morning with the ‘Monday Blues’ or hang out for the Friday nights, weekends or public holidays. That was my take, I really didn’t care about the correct context it was laid out in.
The title means passions, what drives us; the quote tries to establish a connection between our passions and our professions. At least that’s a prognosis of my take. I do have some guilt with the question, that this can be taken as a typical ‘first world’ problem, working and living in the relative stability and peace of Melbourne. After all, aren’t we living on a planet, where poverty, war, and hunger rule? Where thousands more die of these, than Covid. Where having a stable job is a rare privilege. So, I dare not raise this as a hearty whine. I acknowledge its relative weighting in the hugely flawed world we live in, as a problem. Zero. This truth, this wisdom, it helps me now, when I get up on a Monday morning.
But, isn’t this question, of critical importance from a perspective of self-discovery? I would like to think so.
I asked it from a bunch of people at work, recently. Three, to be precise, two men and a girl. What they really liked to do in life. They scratched their heads, all three of them; one bit his nails.
The question got them, really bit in to them. It was meant to be harmless banter. But they thought long and deep; at least a full two minutes. Their eyes penetrated space, there was something like sorrow, even, in them. Perhaps, the times, with Covid, might have inspired their deep introspection?
A lot of “Hmm”s.
“I really don’t know Jude.”
At the end of those minutes.
“I really want to think this through.”
Two of them said something along those lines. The third said the same, through her expression. Still looking somewhat sad, there were some sighs as they turned back to their screens.
I don’t know the full repercussions of this question or its full impact on our lives. Perhaps, the vast majority of us can never be bestselling authors, musicians, actors, gym instructors, or…or cricketers. Or do something along these lines in our day-to-day jobs. Perhaps the answer lies in learning to love what we do? Maybe. That’s a thought.
But we all have dreams, or should, and will the answer to this question, help bridge the gap? I can’t wait for those three to get back to me.