i choose
i am consistently amazed by the amount of excitement people get from counting down the days left until the next day off, pining for the weekend all week long, cherishing saturdays and sundays as if they were their only salvation. it saddens me to think that each day spent working at their respective jobs is so awful people feel the need to number the days that remain until they get even a one day break from the routine. how can you “wait to be happy” until the next day off? why not now? do people know it’s possible to be happy at a job? are they really happier being miserable?
while others have allowed themselves to be reduced by the situations they have created in their lives and live worshiping the weekends, vying for vacations, whining about the work-week and procrastinating for pay, i have always frowned upon such attitudes and behavior. i have always been excited about every aspect of my work- planning events, problem solving, generating excitement around a cause, multitasking, caring for children, organizing lives, collaborating with colleagues and students, staying late to get the job done, helping others and spending quality time with the kids. until today.
this morning i found myself peeking at another teacher’s paper to see how many days remained until the end of the school year. that was my cue. although i had already known for quite some time, the experience confirmed that i had made the right choice to leave my job, the job i love dearly, that i designed for myself, through which i have shared great joy with countless young people.
i refuse to be a teacher just “because i needed a job.” i refuse to get to the point where i can’t wait until the weekend to be happy or fulfill my desires. i refuse to make others listen to my complaining. i refuse to teach “because i get the summers off.” instead, i choose to try something new. i choose to expand my mind by working in a new field. i choose to take a risk. i choose to broaden my horizons by going into uncharted territory.
i choose to fall in love with a new job.
