As we move out of October we see the leaves changing colour, the mornings are crisper, and the darkness of the evening sets in earlier. Fall is certainly upon us and we’ve settled back into our regular fall routines; children have returned to school, the university students have settled into their academic year, we have accepted once again to our weekly commitments and activities, and the frenzy that seems to predominate the work environment.
As I thought about work, and labour, I began searching for a reflective thought that would be appropriate to this and came across the quotation below. As I pondered, it struck me that this was even a more appropriate reflection concerning work, labour, or vocation.
I have always felt pleased, privileged, and relieved that my work is fulfilling and brings meaning to my life, as well as to others. When people find out
what I do, or in the course of meeting people in the hospital, they often ask “how do you do what you do?” My answer often is, “each of us is ‘cut out’ for the work we do and if we weren’t, we probably wouldn’t last at what we’re doing”.
I don’t always find it easy getting out of bed on a Monday morning, returning to work after vacation, or starting the new academic year; and I’ve always been aware of how much more difficult any or all of these must be if you don’t enjoy your work or vocation.
According to
Business Insider the average person spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime; and 80% of people are dissatisfied with their jobs.
This strikes me as far too much of my life potentially being spent unhappy and dissatisfied. Happiness and fulfillment don’t have to be elusive or difficult to obtain. If I can come to an awareness and acceptance of the gifts and capabilities I possess, then I can live ‘into’ those. To reflect upon whether we are doing what we are ‘fitted to do’ is certainly something worth your time and effort.
Has the balance between work and your life shifted since your diagnosis of cancer? Has your cancer experience given you a new or different understanding of ‘vocation’? Share with us on our Facebook page.
