My evolving view on work
It’s been a long week at work and that’s with having had Monday off. I don’t know if I want to pull my hair out or crawl into a ball. OK, fine, I’m being dramatic. It’s kind of interesting though. I was never like this about work. I would work my 9 to 5, and log out without a care in the world until the next morning. I would save my energy for other things like hobbies, volunteering, and hanging out with friends.
A couple of years ago, apart from my full-time, I started a freelancing brand and design gig. I typically enjoy doing this type of work for family, friends, and community orgs. I’m naturally a creative person and the idea of helping others bring their brands to life, visually, was fascinating. But, that wasn’t the case. When I started getting paid for these services, it added a layer of unnecessary stress. Dealing with client feedback, or even worse, unresponsiveness, wasn’t fun one bit. I was also holding a board position for an organization I was close to for over a decade. A few months into my role, I learned that the leadership's views and intentions did not align with my ethics and values. It began to feel like a dictatorship, and I’ve never been one to just do without asking important questions. I decided to step down.
As I searched for a scapegoat to help me feel better, I realized I needed to get serious about my future and finances. Not only did I have to be considerate of my spending, but also where my energy and efforts went. I guess it’s true TIME = MONEY. I admired the courage I had to step away from these unnecessary responsibilities. It made me reflect on why I felt more committed to these projects than to a job I was getting paid good money for. It was during these discerning moments that I turned to prayer.* I sought a mindset transformation that would help me view work as a priority and a main focus. I wanted to feel as connected and passionate enough with my paid job as I did with the other stuff.
I’ve been at my current job for the past 3 years; my longest tenure so far. I have truly enjoyed it and felt as embedded in the culture as can be, especially since we're a fully remote company. I truly stay because of the people, pay, and passion. The people make work fun, rewarding, and refreshing. This full-time job helps me pay my bills, mortgage, build up my savings, and still have money left over for fun stuff like a life-time Bear Blog subscription.
There are days where I wake up early and log off late without a single complaint. There are even those tough days weeks, like this one that make it feel never-ending. But it’s the unique perspectives and collective passion for the company that makes it all worth it. Work has become my second home; a place where I carry a strong sense of responsibility, commitment, and pride. It's a beautiful reminder that prayer always works.