Today was the first time in six weeks, since losing my job, that I actually shook the cobwebs out of my head and realized...it was the best thing that's ever happened to me. I have not been happy in over two years and quite honestly, I was miserable the last six months on my "new" job....seriously MISERABLE! As I have always told my children, if you don't love what you do...then find something that you do love. Fortunately, and I do mean fortunately, they pushed me out before it ate me alive and I am so grateful. As Thomas Jefferson said, after being asked why he didn't want the term 'President' put on his tombstone when they were preparing it after he fell ill, "that title doesn't define me, that was just a job...that's not who I was." Working at the "s" word didn't define me...that was just a job! I have finally realized that. What defines me is who I am...who I have touched, those I have taught and those who continue to learn from me.

When my daughter calls to ask how to get the "burnt smoke" smell out of her house after her children had left the popcorn in the microwave ten minutes longer than instructed...I am teaching her. When I gave my niece advice on how to teach her 5 year old to sleep in her own bed (and it worked)...I am teaching her. When my son calls to tell me, out of the blue, that if it weren't for me he wouldn't be anything....I am teaching him. When a young associate, that I no longer work with, calls to ask my advice, I am teaching her. When a friend I haven't talked to in two years calls to see what I think about her new business venture, I am teaching her. When Zeke wants to know if you can be in the Olympic's if you're pregnant...and asks "what does 'drama queen' mean?"....I am teaching him.

No... a job doesn't define you. If you made a difference at work today...good for you. But I would much rather make a difference in someone's life....and that...I do every day!

Life is short and to quote an old friend of mine, "It's nice to be important...but it's more important to be nice." I'll take the nice any day.

Comments

Bridenstine4 said…
That is a very cool revelation. I was once talking to my sister in law, who at the time was a stay at home mom, and she said it seemed as though my job wouldn't be "so important" to me if I wasn't letting it define me. I was rather miffed at her comment initially, but realized that, too often, that's exactly what I do. I looked around, and at my place of employment, felt that I was not only letting it define me, but own me and that would be no more. I like your blog. It is very important to be nice, to realize teaching people something is priceless and to watch a job pass by as if it is a ship that has a destination not meant for you. I could almost see a subsequent blog entry or two from this one..."How To Know If You Are Miserable" or "How To Get A Burnt Popcorn Smell To Go Away"...."What's a Drama Queen"....and your blog entries could be laid out for at least a year just from this one.
July 27, 2009 at 7:19 AM
The Thompson's said…
If I could teach every person I love just one thing it would be...a job is a job. It isn't you. Never make the mistake I made.
July 28, 2009 at 11:15 AM
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