Do you look forward to going to work?

[Anonymous]

Another economist here -

I can't say I look forward to it. I don't dread it either. I don't expect my whole life to be fun and games, and it isn't - either at home or at work. I put in a fair day's work for a fair wage, and I don't really reflect on it.

I suppose if I earned a third the wage and my back hurt at the end of the day I might reflect harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and just to clarify, by "easy life" (post above) I meant, I didn't have to worry about my next meal as a child, and my parents were able to afford to send me to college. Not "easy life" as in I got a diamond tennis bracelet and a new car every year. I did not!

I hope to be able to do the same for my kids - help pay for college, and give them the luxury of a roof over their head and food on the table.

Those reasons too, help make going to work easier. I feel like a responsible mom!

I was in your camp until I read this post. You say, "give them the LUXURY of a roof over their head and food on the table." Come on. . .seriously?

I hope you understand what the other PPs find slightly off putting about your posts. I agree with you that it is wonderful to work not just for a paycheck, but because you add value to the world. Find something you love (like your dad has), and be paid for doing it. THAT is a luxury. Most folks work because they have too, and it takes time away from their families, and doesn't necessarily feed their souls or give them satisfaction.

And now for a bit of unncessary snark. . .you maybe didn't get a diamond tennis bracelet, but you didn't get much perspective either.

[Anonymous]

You people are crazy for jumping all over the PP with an investor/board-sitting dad. She enjoys work and sees value in it, regardless of paycheck. Lay off already!

[Anonymous]

It's ok. It allows me to contribute to society and be productive. I go. Work. Come back. Wash. Rinse. Repeat... I have found that the best jobs were the ones that paid little. And the opposite true for high paying jobs. I guess the places that paid little had to be pretty good to keep people there. The key is to find balance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's ok. It allows me to contribute to society and be productive. I go. Work. Come back. Wash. Rinse. Repeat... I have found that the best jobs were the ones that paid little. And the opposite true for high paying jobs. I guess the places that paid little had to be pretty good to keep people there. The key is to find balance.

Balance is easy when you have family (your dad) that allow you to attempt balance. You will never have to worry about basic human needs like shelter or food for your children. I am glad that you consider yourself a "responsible mom," but there are people struggling out there. So I too, find it offensive when you say that you can provide the luxury of a roof over your family's head.

Check out the Single Mom's forum. I am not a single mom, but I appreciate their plight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and just to clarify, by "easy life" (post above) I meant, I didn't have to worry about my next meal as a child, and my parents were able to afford to send me to college. Not "easy life" as in I got a diamond tennis bracelet and a new car every year. I did not!

I hope to be able to do the same for my kids - help pay for college, and give them the luxury of a roof over their head and food on the table.

Those reasons too, help make going to work easier. I feel like a responsible mom!

I was in your camp until I read this post. You say, "give them the LUXURY of a roof over their head and food on the table." Come on. . .seriously?

I hope you understand what the other PPs find slightly off putting about your posts. I agree with you that it is wonderful to work not just for a paycheck, but because you add value to the world. Find something you love (like your dad has), and be paid for doing it. THAT is a luxury. Most folks work because they have too, and it takes time away from their families, and doesn't necessarily feed their souls or give them satisfaction.

And now for a bit of unncessary snark. . .you maybe didn't get a diamond tennis bracelet, but you didn't get much perspective either.

For many people, a roof over their head and food on the table IS a luxury. I try not to take it for granted and am thankful for it every day.

But apparently you think it's just your right. There are many who don't have either or those things.

[Anonymous]

"I was in your camp until I read this post. You say, "give them the LUXURY of a roof over their head and food on the table." Come on. . .seriously?

I hope you understand what the other PPs find slightly off putting about your posts. I agree with you that it is wonderful to work not just for a paycheck, but because you add value to the world. Find something you love (like your dad has), and be paid for doing it. THAT is a luxury. Most folks work because they have too, and it takes time away from their families, and doesn't necessarily feed their souls or give them satisfaction.

And now for a bit of unncessary snark. . .you maybe didn't get a diamond tennis bracelet, but you didn't get much perspective either."


The PP refers to this poster, not my original post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ok. It allows me to contribute to society and be productive. I go. Work. Come back. Wash. Rinse. Repeat... I have found that the best jobs were the ones that paid little. And the opposite true for high paying jobs. I guess the places that paid little had to be pretty good to keep people there. The key is to find balance.

Balance is easy when you have family (your dad) that allow you to attempt balance. You will never have to worry about basic human needs like shelter or food for your children. I am glad that you consider yourself a "responsible mom," but there are people struggling out there. So I too, find it offensive when you say that you can provide the luxury of a roof over your family's head.

Check out the Single Mom's forum. I am not a single mom, but I appreciate their plight.

FYI, this person and the investor dad poster are two different people.

[Anonymous]

How is food and shelter not a luxury???? I don't understand how this is being misinterpreted as pretentious.

Do you not come home every night especially in this economy and thank God for it? Because I do.

Maybe it's because I work in downtown DC not far from a homeless shelter and pass folks sleeping on a bench every night on my way to the Metro, but I do see things as a luxury. Why is that wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ok. It allows me to contribute to society and be productive. I go. Work. Come back. Wash. Rinse. Repeat... I have found that the best jobs were the ones that paid little. And the opposite true for high paying jobs. I guess the places that paid little had to be pretty good to keep people there. The key is to find balance.

Balance is easy when you have family (your dad) that allow you to attempt balance. You will never have to worry about basic human needs like shelter or food for your children. I am glad that you consider yourself a "responsible mom," but there are people struggling out there. So I too, find it offensive when you say that you can provide the luxury of a roof over your family's head.

Check out the Single Mom's forum. I am not a single mom, but I appreciate their plight.

FYI, this person and the investor dad poster are two different people.

Thank you. 20:22

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is food and shelter not a luxury???? I don't understand how this is being misinterpreted as pretentious.

Do you not come home every night especially in this economy and thank God for it? Because I do.

Maybe it's because I work in downtown DC not far from a homeless shelter and pass folks sleeping on a bench every night on my way to the Metro, but I do see things as a luxury. Why is that wrong?

I agree with you. Food and shelter are luxuries for people that are homeless. For all of us actually. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. My point is that the a little perspective is necessary for folks who haven't been homeless, but just observed them from afar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is food and shelter not a luxury???? I don't understand how this is being misinterpreted as pretentious.

Do you not come home every night especially in this economy and thank God for it? Because I do.

Maybe it's because I work in downtown DC not far from a homeless shelter and pass folks sleeping on a bench every night on my way to the Metro, but I do see things as a luxury. Why is that wrong?

I agree with you. Food and shelter are luxuries for people that are homeless. For all of us actually. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. My point is that the a little perspective is necessary for folks who haven't been homeless, but just observed them from afar.

I guess I disagree. I guess I don't see why I don't have a reason, as a person who is fortunate enough to never have been homeless, to think of food and shelter as a luxury? Actually, I'll go further and say that I think people who don't think of it as that are selfish jerks who probably think they have nice things because they deserve it and not because they are lucky.

Or should I feel guilty in a few minutes when I lay my body, exhausted from working all day, commuting on the metro, boobs sore as hell from BF with a yeast infection I got from the antibiotics I took to clear up a sinus infection I got from being so exhausted, to say, "man, this feels good. I love my bed! I love my pillow!"

Sorry if TMI but damn to my boobs hurt...

[Anonymous]

Sorry - it's those damn sore boobs, but I messed up that last post - I meant, should I feel guilty for being thankful that I love my pillow and bed? As some folks seem to be saying I should, since I'm wrong to think of those things as a luxury.

Not, should I feel guilty for having those things, because sure, a part of me does feel guilty for that every day. I'm always asking why I was lucky enough to be born to parents who weren't homeless, or too mentally unstable to hold a job, etc.

I'm not sure why it's wrong to be thankful for things, but apparently on this thread think it is.

[Anonymous]

No. I realized the other day that I really dislike my current job. I'm just bored with it, and one of my coworkers actively annoys me to the point that I occasionally fantasize about beating her over the head with one of those soft foam pool noodles. (seriously, try visualizing that the next time you're really p*ssed at someone - it is really amusing.)

I'm trying to make the best of it till the economy picks up, and 99% of the time, nobody here would every know I am miserable. But there are days when it's really hard to come into work, knowing i'll be bored and underutilized. (and yes, I have asked for more work and never complain when I get it, or when I occasionally have to put in extra hours.) I have a Masters degree I never use anymore, and other skills that go completely wasted. I also took a big paycut to work here, and they keep chiseling away at my lower salary with furloughs, benefits cuts, etc. so I resent that as well. I can't afford to go anywhere on the vacation days I already have, so I sure as heck don't need two weeks of UNPAID vacation in addition to that.

So no, I do not look forward to going to work. I deal with this by telecommuting as often as I can, so at least i don't have to do the commute 5 days a week. And I go for runs outside at lunch a couple times a week, which also helps.

That said, I wouldn't want to telecommute 100% of the time either - I would get bored. I do enjoy the social aspects of having people around all day.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had a job to look forward to everyday.
I work part-time at home and I miss the social interaction. I'm sick of getting up, sitting at my computer, intermittently looking for jobs, aimlessly checking email, looking at dcum, and jumping every time the phone rings with the small hope that it may be a prospective employer. And all the while, feeling increasingly pessimistic about my future job prospects, and increasingly insecure about my self-worth.