Time to Pursue Meaningful Labor

I recently added a question to the survey.  Originally I did not want to be too intrusive, but was curious what people did/where they worked.  At the very end of this blog post are some of the answers to that question. 

As I move back to “really” blogging and not just reviewing the book by blogging the daily entries it has occurred to me that creating art is meaningful labor to me.  It is art show season so for the next 4-5 months my weekends will be filled with either creating art or setting up at art shows.  The last couple of weekends I’ve been setting up at art shows and selling pieces. Here is a picture of one weekend at the Kannapolis Kaleidoscope festival with my sister Sharon.  I consider her a true artist.  She was painting murals on our bedroom walls when she was in high school. Now that she’s retired she back to art again and the world is a better place because of it.

At the Kaleidoscope Art Festival in Kannapolis NC

This was our first show together but it won’t be our last (God willing).  I look at this picture and I can hear my dad say:  “One day you two will be like two peas in a pod.” He said that as we were going through a family tragedy of losing everything in a house fire and being determined to outlast the delay’s of the insurance company as they used all of their delay tactics to “try to wait until my father died” as one of the firefighters told us they were doing.  I just look at this picture and I think about my dad and him knowing what happens as one enters middle-age and the later years of life.  You realize that your family or what’s left of it is what matters most.   

Another weekend in May I set up at NoDa Day in Charlotte.  I was painting some lightbulbs at this show and some kids started coming up and wanted to paint rocks. I coached them through what they could paint on their rocks. The little girl below came up and she knew what she wanted to paint.  She painted:  “Love”  but she added “is worth it.” LOVE IS WORTH IT.  That almost brought me to tears because at the end of the day Love is all that is worth it.

So, now as I prepare for several upcoming art shows I have to dedicate myself to the art table so I will have pieces to sell.  This weekend I started on the below pieces:

Sometimes when I do this (know that it’s a weekend dedicated to creating, painting, art, etc.) I feel like I’m working on my master’s degree again.

I’m listening to the birds chirp, my neighbors enjoying the pool, people coming and going, doing yard work, etc. while I watch from the window at the art table.

Then I think of  people like Winston Churchill and know that there is no place I’d rather be than creating these pieces of art. It feels more like a labor of love that is leading me to my future. It’s as much a space of serenity as it some destination.  Past, present and future just collide at the art table. It is peace amidst the chaos of life and love and living.

I think finding what you love is a large part of answering the question – What do you do?  Good grief it’s not a job title.  I’ve had count – 19 jobs – several different job titles, levels,  industries, types of organizations and answering “What do you do?”  just can’t be boiled down to a job title, profession or even a business that you own.

It’s larger than that, at least that is what I hope for my life. I watch others as they get caught up in job titles and positions and remember when I was there.  It’s almost like watching people caught up in “racing off to a church building” to look for God and remembering when I was there too.  I get it.  I really do.  I just have come to believe that life is bigger than the obvious and the easy.

Hope, Compassion  and OM are my words for meditation and study for 2015.  It’s been a journey so far this year. All I can do is:

1. Hope when I open my eyes every morning I jump out of bed and am ready to enjoy having one more day to live verses hoping that I can just survive the things that will happen on that day.
2. Hope I will be able to practice compassion for others and be able to just observe my emotions, not get caught up in them and to watch my ego as it struggles with this charge of showing compassion and offering forgiveness. IT IS A BIG  GIGANTIC TEST TO SHOW COMPASSION.  TRY IT…IT’S NOT EASY. EVERYDAY I WONDER…WHAT WAS I THINKING TO TAKE ON SHOWING COMPASSION?????
3. Hope that all of this blogging, art, Etsy, 19 jobs, 10 years (and counting) sabbatical from my “real life”waiting for me in VA will all add up to a meaningful legacy I can leave my granddaughter.  That’s my BIGGEST hope. 

Below is how people answered the question: What do you do? So as you can see it’s all over the board from professionals to entry-level.  It doesn’t matter what you do, where you currently work, how much you make, if you were recently promoted, etc. YOU can still be miserable doing that thing, but there is always HOPE.  HOPE you will find your life’s work. Hold on to HOPE today. Just Hold on to HOPE.

What do you do? Job Title/Industry/Field	Date/Time
software developer	Today, 8:02AM
Sales Manager	Today, 7:45AM
Admin executive in government training field	Today, 5:41AM
Supervisor at a bookstore	Yesterday, 11:19AM
fashion designer	Yesterday, 6:27AM
brand manager	Friday, May 15th 10:41PM
Medical Field	Friday, May 15th 7:20PM
Banking	Friday, May 15th 1:19PM
Films	Friday, May 15th 7:38AM
Retail District Manager	Friday, May 15th 6:59AM
Billing	Friday, May 15th 5:45AM
Welder	Thursday, May 14th 9:44PM
Registered Nurse	Thursday, May 14th 5:09PM
Teacher	Thursday, May 14th 4:23PM
Design Consultant Assistant	Thursday, May 14th 2:27PM
Copywriter	Thursday, May 14th 11:04AM
Marketing, PR, writing, publishing – but I’m not doing that now	Thursday, May 14th 8:29AM
Receptionist-Secretary/Private Club	Wednesday, May 13th 10:45AM
Oil and gas	Wednesday, May 13th 10:30AM
food/nutrition service	Wednesday, May 13th 6:39AM
Insurance	Wednesday, May 13th 5:58AM
Lawrie clerk	Tuesday, May 12th 9:29PM
Sales	Tuesday, May 12th 8:11PM
Retail	Tuesday, May 12th 7:43PM
forklift driver	Tuesday, May 12th 6:04PM
Csr	Tuesday, May 12th 5:27PM
Cook	Tuesday, May 12th 2:28PM
Consultant	Tuesday, May 12th 11:06AM
Operations in retail	Tuesday, May 12th 7:46AM
Pharmaceutical	Tuesday, May 12th 7:31AM
Mortgage	Monday, May 11th 9:43PM
Designer	Monday, May 11th 8:09PM
Nonprofit arts field	Monday, May 11th 7:49PM
IT Specialist	Monday, May 11th 12:37PM
Retail	Monday, May 11th 10:12AM
Healthcare Operations	Monday, May 11th 10:08AM
IT professional	Monday, May 11th 3:40AM
Charity sector	Monday, May 11th 2:40AM
Transportation	Sunday, May 10th 10:45PM
Marketing/Finance	Sunday, May 10th 10:35PM
Geologist	Sunday, May 10th 8:36PM
Software	Sunday, May 10th 5:14PM
family advocate	Saturday, May 9th 2:31PM
Retail	Saturday, May 9th 11:51AM
Sales	Saturday, May 9th 11:31AM
marketing account manager	Saturday, May 9th 9:36AM
general restaurant fast food manager	Saturday, May 9th 8:02AM
general restaurant fast food manager	Saturday, May 9th 7:54AM
Retail	Saturday, May 9th 6:32AM
Drafting	Friday, May 8th 6:38PM
Finance	Friday, May 8th 5:14PM
Programmer	Friday, May 8th 8:15AM
Service Technician for Fitness Equipment	Thursday, May 7th 9:04AM
food service manager	Thursday, May 7th 3:38AM
Need producer	Wednesday, May 6th 10:58PM
Customer Service	Wednesday, May 6th 10:15PM
Customer service representative	Wednesday, May 6th 9:59PM
Sales	Wednesday, May 6th 7:35PM
Auto	Wednesday, May 6th 7:23PM
Greeter	Wednesday, May 6th 12:51PM
Graphic Designer in Gambling Industry	Wednesday, May 6th 10:22AM
Art	Wednesday, May 6th 7:45AM
Art	Wednesday, May 6th 7:42AM
administrative manager in a church ministry	Wednesday, May 6th 7:14AM
Analyst	Tuesday, May 5th 4:45PM
Sales	Tuesday, May 5th 4:23PM
Contracting	Tuesday, May 5th 8:19AM
Was Accounts/Admin	Tuesday, May 5th 1:58AM
Administrative lands officer	Tuesday, May 5th 1:21AM
Welder	Monday, May 4th 10:19PM
I/T	Monday, May 4th 4:04PM
IT	Monday, May 4th 1:17PM
Warehouse	Monday, May 4th 9:49AM
PA bookkeeper	Monday, May 4th 6:57AM
PA bookkeeper	Monday, May 4th 6:57AM
Hospitality	Sunday, May 3rd 10:59PM
Administration	Sunday, May 3rd 6:32PM
recreation therapy	Sunday, May 3rd 4:22PM
Director Evaluation	Sunday, May 3rd 2:58PM
Sales	Saturday, May 2nd 11:25PM
DIRECTOR	Saturday, May 2nd 2:18PM
Qs/construction	Saturday, May 2nd 1:36PM
Teacher	Saturday, May 2nd 2:52AM
Legal Assistant	Friday, May 1st 9:02PM
Research	Friday, May 1st 5:22PM
Financial Controller	Friday, May 1st 4:27PM
Sales	Friday, May 1st 12:21PM
data management	Friday, May 1st 9:26AM
Information technology	Thursday, Apr 30th 8:47PM
Customer Service	Thursday, Apr 30th 7:18PM
business development	Thursday, Apr 30th 5:19PM
music teacher	Thursday, Apr 30th 12:46PM
Janitorial	Thursday, Apr 30th 11:16AM
Finance	Thursday, Apr 30th 6:56AM
General manager of mcdonalds	Thursday, Apr 30th 5:47AM
Project Engineer	Thursday, Apr 30th 5:48AM
Legal Assistant/Receptionist	Wednesday, Apr 29th 4:20PM
Contact specialist	Wednesday, Apr 29th 4:18PM
motor insurance. but who even gives a fu*k?	Wednesday, Apr 29th 3:45PM
Admin	Wednesday, Apr 29th 6:53AM

Finally Finished Blogging The Book

After six months of writing the book and one year of blogging the book below is what I learned:

• You can do anything you set your mind to do.
• Making a commitment and fulfilling it no matter if it is only to yourself requires determination and grit. 
• Having a cause that you care about in this world gives your life meaning.
• Helping other people is what living a good life is really all about.
• Don’t expect everybody to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
• Continue to stay the course no matter how much it appears that nothing is happening. 
• Taking on the suffering of others (showing compassion) is not a burden but an honor. 
• Using Twitter has real possibilities for meaningful connections with others around the world. 
• You don’t make much money selling e-books or hard cover books for that matter, even if you sell alot of books!

So, now I keep going.  The work is not done.  It is not finished. People worldwide are still suffering in jobs that make them miserable and depressed.   

I’ll go back to blogging weekly from here on out.  

Please know that if you discovered this blog  – you are not crazy and you are not alone. There are many other kindred spirits around the world who are miserable in their jobs and are contemplating “just quitting”.

Get Ready. Set. Live.

I want to write graphic novels and scripts and paint portraits and write stories.

~Worker Living in CANADA

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

 

Today, starting today, while you are still working your job do the things you KNOW you want to do. 

• If it is to write graphic novels: write one line of a graphic novel. 

• If it is writing scripts: write one line for a new script. 

• If it is to paint portraits: start painting a portrait. 

Today START moving towards what your heart, mind and soul is telling you that you were born to do.  START TODAY, even while you are still working at your job (that you want or need to quit).

Just START and things will open up for you.  

Go Through The Pain. Get Something Out Of This. Move Towards Your Life's Work.

I dunno how to do my job. I have been thinking of quitting since a month ago. I feel many things are going wrong and I have no idea how to solve them. My memory really sucks.

~Worker Living in SINGAPORE

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

 

A poorly fit job can make us feel inadequate.  We can’t remember things.  We can’t make sense out of things, but we are not dumb.

We are brilliant.

We are geniuses. 

We need to find where we fit and where our brilliance and genius can be realized. We are more than adequate, each and every one of us. 

Ask. Ask. Ask. Open Your Mouth. Say It Outloud.

I am currently fed up with my job. I actually hate it.

I wake up in the morning to go to work and I feel depressed. This has been happening for more than a year. I find it totally non challenging and I am forced to be here every day, cause I kind of think it’s dangerous to quit your job nowadays in the middle of the economical crisis.

I have been searching for a job for a long time, but I can’t find anything that interests me.

~Worker Living in GERMANY

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

 

Today, ask for things to open up.

Just ask for the universe, God, your higher power to open an opportunity for you that is right for you at this time in your life.  Although things may not have worked out last year it does not mean that they won’t work out for you this year. 

Ask. Act. Wait.

Your Life Is A Story. Start A New Chapter. Create A Happy Ending.

I’m not happy working 8-5 jobs anymore.

I feel trapped and disgruntled. 

I feel I can do better self- employed than working for someone.

~Worker Living in BOTSWANA

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

 

Today, recognize if you feel trapped. 

If so: Your mind is telling you that “you’re stuck”, “can’t change”, “can’t leave”, or “can’t make enough money doing your own thing”. 

If you WANT to leave and be self-employed then you can. Change the conversation in your mind and start thinking about HOW and WHEN you can leave; and HOW and WHEN you can do what you want to do with your career and life’s work. 

Self Improvement. Learning. Sharpen The Saw.

I hate sitting in a quiet place with no talking and trying to learn new software.

~Worker Living in AUSTRALIA

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, learn something new. 

If you don’t want to learn what they want you to learn then figure out how you can use what you are learning for yourself, your next job, or to help someone else. 

Learn something new today that is valuable to you. Before you close your eyes to go to sleep ask yourself: “What is one thing I learned of value today?” 

Does It Make ANY Sense To Work At A Place That Is Destroying Your Soul? It's Time To Re-Think Work and Working.

Because my job is soul-destroying.

I can’t do what I want to do and those things that need doing.  There’s far too much work that cannot be fitted into the day.

I work with absolutely awful people, in an organisation whose values and attitudes I don’t share.

I can’t be creative in my teaching or in my day-to-day job. I feel constricted in every part of my action, always having to watch and having to account for my actions and decisions.

It’s like being in a police state, and having to abide by laws you know to be corrupt and self-serving. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!

~Worker Living in the NETHERLANDS

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Some jobs can be even more than soul-crushing. They can be soul-destroying. 

We don’t have to stay in a place we know is corrupt and self-serving.

We can and we will fight for our very souls. Today is Cinco de Mayo; it’s a Spanish celebration. Fight your battle today and free yourself from your own “police state” of employment that is soul-destroying.

Thinking About Your Career: If You Trusted Your Intuition What Would You Do?

I can’t do sales anymore.

~Worker Living in INDIA

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

There are some professions that take their toll on us and we can’t do them anymore. 

We KNOW we can’t do them. 

We KNOW we need to do something different.

We KNOW we need to “Just Quit”. 

Don’t fall into the trap of going on when you KNOW it’s time for a change. There is something inside of you, call it what you want, that already KNOWS what you are supposed to do.

Listen. Work the Steps. Make Your Move. 

What About If You Just Trusted YOURSELF? What Would Happen?

The corporate culture is not a good fit. I knew that before I accepted the job, but the $$ was good so I went for it. The long hours, stress and negativity (there is always an issue and anything you do is not good enough for the client) are impacting my health. I was ill & felt off for months. I wasn’t able to sleep. I rarely saw my family and I was always angry.

In 15 months in this job I can count on one hand the number of days I would call “good” days.

I am looking for a new role and it has been challenging as the long work hours leave me exhausted with little energy to actually search for something else. I want to be able to spend the holidays with my family, improve my health and make the time to find a new role that is a good fit. That is why I am looking at quitting.

~Worker Living in CANADA

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

 

We know when we know. 

We know when it’s time to leave. Sometimes our body makes the decision for us.

Consider it a gift to you when you know when you know.  You can trust yourself.

Time To Take Control Of Your Life Now.

My job makes me feel depressed, like I have no real value or purpose in life.  It pays terribly and there’s not one single thing about it I enjoy. 

It makes me feel less and less like ‘me’ every damn day that passes and I’m beyond sick of feeling this way. 

I want some control and DIRECTION in my life again.  

I want something to really strive for, and just maybe make one of my dreams come true. (If I don’t try, I’ll never know and I’ll always be kicking myself).

~Worker Living in the UNITED KINGDOM

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Take control of the direction your life is taking. 

Don’t TRY, because trying provides an excuse, just DO IT…take control.

If you don’t, then who will?

Looking For Joy Today? It's In The Journey.

My boss is a terrible negative woman that I dread working with.

I don’t like being away from my son. I want to be with him all the time.

There is no real joy in my job.

I work with several miserable people and I do not make what I would like to be making.

~Worker Living in NEW YORK

Today, make a promise to yourself: to find real joy. 

Say to yourself: “I deserve joy. I want joy. Help me to find joy in my life.”