Do you love your job?

Do you love your job?

I love my job. I do, why do so many people look at me questioningly? Some think I am just trying to keep up a positive vibe; others, that I am faking it; yet some believe that I am pushing their buttons. But nope, honest to goodness, I love my job.

My job is not the kind I thought I would ever have. Actually, I knew nothing about this industry before getting the position. Added to that, I left my previous post, as a manager in the field I had experience, to a degree I'd even say mastery, without any need to do so. Just because I felt I needed to grow, to try new things. So I did, and I don't regret it.

My job is not glamorous, it won't make me famous, and beyond the salary (which is good, but nothing outlandish) it is no crazy scheme to make me rich. I also cannot really talk about the details with other people, not because of matters of National Security or similar, but because of simple client confidentiality. By the way, I work in a lab that certifies diamonds, see? Nothing major. I work in the dark, with microscopes and loupes, computers and music in my ears.

To be perfectly candid, I'm not even completely sure why I enjoy this so much. I certainly love the quiet environment, the individual beauty of each stone, the little quizzing moments from time to time, the fact that everything is black on white. Of course, I miss some elements of my life in the education sector: seeing people gain skills so they can move further in their paths; greater socialising; the different subjects discussed. In fact, I also loved teaching and teacher training, it just came to an end for me.

Most people seem to work in jobs they don't really like, just because they need a salary. Of course, we all do, and I have done so too - I really didn't like having to work in a coffee shop, or at a food stall at a Xmas Market. They are stepping stone roles, to be used temporarily while searching for what motivates us. They also are supposed to be there, so we can identify what we like and what we don't like for ourselves: in my case, I loathe anything to do with sales, marketing, and so forth. I feel dirty trying to convince people to buy something, probably because I hate feeling coaxed or tricked into anything in life. On the other hand, I love learning, thus I loved teaching and now I love exploring a new field. I also enjoy polite environments, and non-competitive roles.

When people complain about their jobs, about feeling trapped, about ... I feel saddened for them. Not because they have bad jobs, but because they don't utilise them to develop towards something they do love. Yes, I know, it's not necessarily an easy process, with the job market being tough, responsibilities (payments, shopping, rent, children-related expenses, etc.) playing a role, and so forth. Still, situations are created, not perennial realities. I am saddened because they have not had the will to move on to what they truly would love. In some cases, because they cling on to what was, what they used to enjoy, hoping it will repeat itself.

People, like the frog in the heating water, seem more willing to adapt until death, than to leap out looking for a new pond.

Whatever it is you do, I wish you strong legs for a mighty jump; a brave heart to make the choice; and constant growth to make your soul sing.

I wish you, too, love your job.