Where is the (job) passion?

[dizzy]

Originally Posted by katbuad

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Anyone passionate (like those flyboys) about their job? Or is that passion reserved for flying only?

I can honestly say that I am passionate about my job and love what I do. I teach math at a community college. I have the privilege of working with some awesome students. Many of them are math phobic and devastated that math is a part of their degree program. I make it my goal to turn around their thinking after leaving my class at the end of the semester. So far I have had such rewarding experiences with my students. I am on my 4th year of teaching full time at the community college, so I am anxiously awaiting the day that I get that email from an old student who made it throught their degree and thanks me for taking the time to finally explain math to them! My husband always says that I am just like a rockstar...my students will often come up to me when I see them in public and give me a hug or tell him how great I was with them. That makes it all worth it!!

[Chi829]

honestly.,,,,, when I first started my job I felt like I was the luckiest person! I still like my work but my environment has turned a bit sour. Lots of unwanted drama and such! It stinks. I would think that you would find that anywhere ( even at DH's Job) and trust me, DH does not come home from his trips talking about how great he has it. Although he loves his job, not everything is hunky dory!

[Imachickadee75]

You know a good friend of mine from our flight school days was just saying the same things. She's in her early forties and has changed her career track several times in the ten years I've known her, trying to find what she "loves" as her husband has.

I look at it like this.

Some people are truely fortunate to have a passion for their jobs and get HUGE satisfaction out of it. For the rest of us, I think it is inportant to find a job that
1. Is interesting enough to keep us coming back (not necessarily with passion but enough for the majority of mornings not to feel like total torture. The work or the environment (coworkers, clients) should be mostly fulfilling and enjoyable.

But, more inportantly,
2. The job should pay enough for a person to be able to pursue their passions OUT OF WORK. You know, enough to support a "habit" so to speak.

For example, I don't know that I have a passion for admitting crazy people to the hospital, but I do get a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction out of helping people in crisis. But more inportantly, it lets me stay home with my son (and soon to be new baby) most days of the week (my true passion). If I didn't have kids, I think I'd probably get back into horses. (another true passion)

So my point is, I don't think you have to have a passion for your job. I think you DO have to have a passion somewhere in your life. You job simply needs to facilitate it while being fulfilling enough to spend 40 hrs a week there.

How's that for deep?

Jackie

[BAC]

Jackie, that all makes perfect sense to me! That is true with most writers (those who aren't household names)... most of them need their day jobs in order to survive.

I don't think we all need to find jobs we are passionate about beyond all belief and make our lives, because in some cases, that may not be an achievable goal. But if that does happen for some people, the more power to them.

I really like my job. That's how far I would go in saying. I work in a nice enviroment, get respect from my boss who is very flexiable and relaxed, and I get to work in an industry that is of great interest to me, aviation. (Even if I have to listen to pilots whine all day. )

[SeatClutcher]

I think all of you who do have a passion for your jobs are SO fortunate.

I'm working hard to get the job I want most (writing for a living), but if that takes a while, I don't know how much I'll love whatever job I get in the meantime (once we move). Even if I like it well enough, I don't think there'll be any real passion for it.

[HeffsRah]

I think it's all how you look at life. I think lots of times, our circumstances are 90% perspective...not to get too philosophical, but, I think we can choose to be happy. Of course, passionate is certainly different from being happy.

Jeff is passionate about flying, but that doesnt mean he's passionate about working for Piedmont. He has to get up at 3 in the morning sometimes, be away from home and me for long periods of time, and gets screwed by crew scheduling every now and then...all just to "climb the career ladder" and end up with a job that will allow him to be home more often to do the things he REALLY loves...restoring his old VW, flying his little 1946 Champ, spending more quality time with me and his family, you know, the things everyone wants to be doing.

IMO, work is work, and wherever you get a job, there will be some things wrong, it's just how much you can overlook and still get satisfaction at the end of the day about how much you have achieved. And if there is too much to overlook, life is too short to waste your time leaving yourself stuck somewhere. QUIT, and move on to bigger and better things.

Remember, money doesnt buy happiness, we only think it helps.

Seatclutcher, being a writer for a living sounds absolutley amazing...what a dream come true that would be. Good luck!! I hope that works out for you someday.


one more thing,
my grandmother always has this saying "When you get old, God gives you the ability to look back on your life and forget the bad memories and remember the good ones"
......just make sure you make enough of those good memories to remember them.

[SeatClutcher]

Oh, it's not about money. That's the last thing it's about. If I could work a job-job for $80,000, or get paid just enough for writing fiction that I'd be able to pay bills and rent, I'd choose the latter.

Money schmoney.


Many good things to remember, in your post.

[ccbegay]

Originally Posted by HeffsRah

one more thing,
my grandmother always has this saying "When you get old, God gives you the ability to look back on your life and forget the bad memories and remember the good ones"
......just make sure you make enough of those good memories to remember them.

hey, love the philosophy! thanks!