on work

[adrienmundi]

I'm always very interested in hearing about another's work, whatever it may be. I'm using the term here to indicate that to which they devote their energy, enthusiasm, and time, what gets that sparkle in their eye when it's opened up, what gets them wound up in a good way even to talk about. For some lucky people, this is their job/career, and I'm way happier for them than I am envious. For others, it's a calling, an outside interest, a hobby, an endless project, what have you. No matter what it is, I like hearing about it, because it's what makes people who they are, I think, or at least more who they are.

What I'm starting to realize, though, is that I don't know what my work is. There are things about which I obssess and/or can't ignore, but that's a more negative valence than what I'm after. Surely I've got work... don't I?

Comments

[adifferentriver.livejournal.com]

Ok, other relevant questions...

What do you like to do?

What do you need? Like, for examples, the feeling you're helping other people, a creative outlet, etc?

[adrienmundi]

"Like" is tricky territory for me, but what I do know I like: music, reading, talking about/developing ideas, physical activity (all too little of that, lately), feeling connected, feeling like I can and do help, feeling like i'm actually communicating.

What I need, primarily, is to find a way to bring more of me into contact with the things I do and those with whom I come into contact.

[adifferentriver.livejournal.com]

Ta da! Your ideal work is... pastry chef!

Ok, maybe it's not that simple.

But, maybe you look at some of the things listed here and add them up to something you could actually go and do. Maybe equity + physical activity + feeling like you can and do help = building homes for the homeless. That's just an off the top of my head, overly simple example. But, you know, you go and try something like that, and maybe you love it and it's great. Or, maybe it sucks. Or maybe it leads you sideways into something you really want to do that you wouldn't have encountered otherwise.

It's trial and error, but it's a start, anyway. Or not. But, from here, it looks more likely to produce results than some other options.