Feel a Way, Man
"Tell me about your work." I was sitting face-to-face with a stranger, a man I had just met 30 minutes prior. He solicited me for some advice, and we were just getting to know each other. We chatted about family, sports, backgrounds, hobbies....all the normal stuff. Then, I changed the subject: "Tell me about your work." His eyes instantly lit up, and a huge smile landed on his face as if there was an awakening inside him.
"My work makes me feel a way, man! Does that even make sense?"
Oh man, I connected so deeply with that. My work makes me feel a way, too, man! He proceeded to explain how much joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, and meaning he gets from his job. The job: A janitor at a well-known business. I couldn't have loved that more!
We live in a society that glorifies self-employment, entrepreneurship, and advanced degrees. Meanwhile, I was sitting with a man who was neither self-employed nor formally educated. He is working a nine-to-five at a mediocre-paying job, and he's thriving!
This is how it's supposed to be. Who am I, or anyone else, to tell him what work matters and what work doesn't? Heck, people should be jealous of him. This man truly loves his life......all of his life. He wakes up excited for work, thrives in his job, and then goes home to a family he loves. He pursued work that matters, and he's living his best life.
The advice he sought from me wasn't how he could make $x more money or build more wealth, but rather how to make the best use of his family's current resources. Contentment and a desire to do the right thing. Again, I admire him so much!
Do you feel a way about your work? Most people do, but it's feeling a way that they wouldn't wish on their worst enemy. Most people feel pretty crappy about their job or, worse, numbness.
I feel a way about my work. I get a little giddy just thinking about what I get to do. Nearly every single day of my week is eagerly anticipated. Not every moment of every day, but nearly every day. I feel a way about my work that makes me sad to realize that a day will come when I won't get to work any longer. I hope that day doesn't come for many more decades, but that's not entirely in my control.
I hope you can relate to my new janitor friend. I hope you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, "My work makes me feel a way, man!" If this makes you cringe or feel like punching this guy (or me) in the face, it might be a sign. Amazing is out there, and all it requires is for us to seek it out. Yes, we can linger in our current situation and simply ride it out. That option is on the table, but I think people deserve better than that. I think everyone deserves to feel a way, man.
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