I use Bloglovin’ to follow all the blogs that I’m interested in. That way I don’t miss any posts. Once in awhile Bloglovin’ emails me a list of new blogs I might enjoy. Very rarely do I click on any – they just don’t grab me. Today was different. The post was entitled Six Signs You’re Doing What You Love. It was a very short post, but said a lot using very few words. It intrigued me because I’m all about being happy and living your passion and I enjoy other peoples’ perspectives on that. All six signs described quite succinctly how I’ve lived my life through 35 years of teaching, and now in retirement, but one summed it up exactly:
“Work = part of life
You don’t have to put in time at work and then escape to ‘the real life’ to be happy. You enjoy life and work. You feel alive and joyful not just at home but also at your desk. When you love your work, it’s a part of your life.”
Somehow that statement made me feel settled. I always thought I was a little bit weird when I wanted to go back to my classroom in mid July after a brief rest. There were summers I was so frustrated because I couldn’t get into my room due to floor maintenance or construction. (One summer I actually entered and left through the window because the hallways were closed.) A bit extreme, I know, but I just couldn’t contain the enthusiasm for getting started on a brand new school year. The ideas were flowing and I was bursting to make them happen. Though a teacher’s job is mentally taxing, and rest was needed, I always approached every first day and everyday back from vacations with a renewed passion. I always knew I couldn’t just not teach.
Now that I’ve found my perfect retirement job, the feeling still remains. Last weekend I had three consecutive days off since I started 8 months ago. It was nice. In fact, I think I appreciated that Monday off even more, but come Tuesday I couldn’t wait to get back in the clubs and be with my members. When I commented to my boss the previous Friday about having three days off in a row, he said to enjoy it – while looking at me a little perplexed. Who complains about time off? (I’m still somewhat of an enigma to him.) He thought he was doing a good thing – and he was – as a boss. He had started paying attention to how many people were working 20 plus days in row without a day off. (I have to say they are great people to work for – they really care about the health message they stand for and extend that to their employees.)
After reading the post I found this morning, I suddenly understand myself a little better. It’s not a bad thing to like to “work”. In fact, it’s a good thing. I love the part about not having to escape to the “real life” to be happy. I live my real life all day, everyday. A day off or a vacation is not a “break” from “work”. It walks hand in hand with it. Time off and work are the pieces of me that make my existence happy and passionate.
And so, as another day goes by, I often tell people I was a teacher for 35 years, but I never worked a day in my life. The same holds true now, working for Koko FitClub, and…I have written.
*Kudos to Yara Michels and her blog Chapter Friday, of which I’m now a faithful follower.
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