It is no secret that life sucks right now for pretty much everyone. The economy has really taken its toll on people and it is wearing folks down fast. Without jobs, people are losing hope very quickly. And I can't blame them when they are losing their homes, their vehicles, and their utilities just so they can make sure they eat more than a few times a week. I just started a new job... one that I am incredibly thankful to have after being unable to find work for almost 2 years. Yet, I'm now surrounded by people that hate their job. They come in for a paycheck. And this is a field where 1) you will never become rich from it and 2) you really need to be driven by a passion for the work, not a paycheck. Otherwise, burnout is the only possible route. It may take 25 years for them to realize they are burnt out and not fit for this line of work... or it may take just a matter of weeks. But I hear people every day say something negative about our jobs.
- I hate this place.
- I can't wait to get out of here.
- They are driving me crazy today.
- If I could find better paying job, I'd take it immediately.
- Is it Friday evening yet?
These are all things I hear my co-workers say. It is disheartening. Mostly because I love my job. Not just the fact that I have a job, but I am in a field that is so fulfilling. I honestly look forward to work on Mondays and enjoy my 40 hours a week on the clock. Nothing I do is particularly difficult. The job requires patience, attention to detail, structured record keeping, and some grunt work. Yes, I have issues getting up in the morning. I'm not exactly a teenager anymore so I don't spring out of bed, ready to start my day. I dislike having to go to bed by 9pm so that I can make myself wake up on time, no later than 6am. But its not because of my job. I'm just not a morning person anymore. I'm in my prime from about 8am until about 4pm. Anywhere outside of those hours and I'm tired, likely in need of coffee, and probably a little grumpy. I can admit that.
I had a conversation with a coworker today. I probably pissed her off but I get so tired of hearing her bitch and moan about how awful her job is and how no one else pulls their weight. I told her to try to think of the positives of her job:
- she stays busy so the time passes by quickly
- she doesn't work a monotonous job like a line in a factory anymore
- she has a pretty awesome schedule (it never changes and we're always off before 4pm)
- she provides a great service to people
She just kind of stared at me like I grew two extra heads. I know, I'm probably the annoying coworker that is always smiling, upbeat, and ready for more now. I used to hate those coworkers. But I finally understand them. In the jobs I used to have (fast food, gas station cashier, retail, etc.), I was miserable with my work. It sucked and I counted the seconds from the time I clocked in until the moment I clocked out just so I could get a paycheck. Those crazy "happy" people... they didn't do that. And since they didn't do that, they were much better off for it. I don't always walk in the door with the sun shining out my rear, but I fake it until my grumpiness wears off and I am my normal bright self. It makes my day so much better. And I would like to think that it probably makes others around me feel like their day is better too. Maybe not everyone, but at least a few of them.
So today's Thursday Thought is this: Positive thinking can make a difference. Bad and/or annoying things happen all the time. But you don't have to make it happen every day. Find the good things, even if you have to really read between the lines, and make sure you focus on those. It isn't easy, but you will get better at it over time and your life will benefit from it in major ways. For me, positive thinking is the difference between needing anxiety medication to face my co-workers and their "rain on everyone's parade" attitude everyday and making the decision of what to have for lunch my toughest choice. Give it a try for a few weeks and see if you notice a difference!
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.
Author Unknown
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Herm Albright
1 comment:
Good Post.. Thanks for the share...
New Ideas - positive ideas
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