What I Like About Work/Working

Cara mentioned to me today that WMAG’s been a bit Debbie Downer “wah-wah” on working lately. But we’re against guilt, not work. Work is good. Work keeps us and our kin fed, clothed, housed, etc.

So I’m going to list a few of my favorite things about work and working:

  1. Belting out Journey tunes (among others) during my commute to and from work.
  2. Going out to lunch downtown with friends. So stop scheduling meetings at lunch, account people.
  3. Chatting with a variety of funny, smart, interesting people with different perspectives on the world. Even one from South Africa! He’s very interesting.
  4. The panoramic view from my desk of the Ohio River. (“Look, guys, a barge!”) Oh, and the Bengals stadium. (“Look, there’s that guy cleaning all the seats again! I bet that takes a long time.”)
  5. Brainstorming ideas for consumer packaged goods’ brands’ websites and banner ads. How do you get people excited about digestive products and floss online? Talk about a creative challenge. My brain is in a near-constant state of storms.
  6. Writing for a living. It’s what I’m good at, and I like it. Especially when it’s writing about poop.
  7. Getting paid every two weeks. Money is nice and it pays my bills.

OK, that’s a good start. Now it’s your turn. What do you like about work? Do tell—comment away!

12 thoughts on “What I Like About Work/Working

  1. I like work for lots of reasons – Number 1 is that I feel lucky to be making a living as a writer. A lot of people dream about doing that, and I’ve achieved it. That’s cool. I also like getting recognition for doing a good job. When you’re a mom, especially, you don’t often have people telling you, “wow, you really cleaned that pee spatter off the floor well” or “I totally admire how you refrained from smacking your child back when she whaled you in the face just then.” (Yeah – we’re going through a hitting mommy phase right now – it is teh fun!) At work, my bosses and peers give positive feedback on a regular basis. Even the not-so-positive feedback is mentally stimulating, as opposed to just, “No! I don’t want to!!”

  2. Modern Mama says:

    I think we should all try to remember when we were so excited about getting the job! Now we take it for granted. I like getting spiffed up and wearing high heels. Not every day…sometimes I wish I could stay in my pajamas, but a lot of days. I like using my brain and chatting with co-workers and feeling valuable. I like using my college degree and expressing different parts of myself, not just the mommy part. I like having coffee at my desk and surfing the Internet to look busy. There are definitely downsides to working full-time. But what’s the use of focusing on that?
    –MM

  3. And… now I’m feeling guilty for implying I don’t get positive feedback from my child. Hearing “I love you, Mommy” is the best feedback there is – cue sappy music.

    But yeah… It’s nice to get some grown-up kudos as well.

  4. A great idea to write about the good things, I need to follow suit!

  5. just4ofus says:

    I like work because it gives me another “identity” other than wife, mom and friend. I like using my brain/college degree.
    I like the social interaction, and I get a lot of it…. in fact that is most of my job.
    I like working with patients, and I like helping “fix” them, plus I really get a weird thrill out of blood and guts : )
    oh and Susan.. is your South African very interesting or very cute? I have heard rumors.

  6. The South African is universally considered interesting. Cute is entirely up to the beholder.

  7. Hey, being back from the stay at home world for two years, I’m so grateful to be back! Where do I start? Hmmm, I’m happier! At the end of the day I’m not nearly as mentally exhausted as I was negotiating with children all day. I command respect from others, from which I’m not challenged on everything- thanks to my great nanny now watching my three and one year old.

    I also think working as an option makes it so much easier. I work because I want to, not because I have to. I found out that I don’t want to spend every waking moment with my children. I love them, but not every moment of the day to I want to have to explain endless as to why I’m doing something.

    Wow, I could go on and on….. but I’ll stop to save some room for others.

    Wait, one more, I have time to blog now! And the energy.

  8. The Juggler says:

    I like to have a reason to get dressed up a little in the morning, I feel more energized when I’ve got places to go and people to see. I like to use my brain and I like not having to answer 30,000 why’s a day. I like that my son comes home from preschool and tells me all about his day and how the ‘kid in the blue shirt stepped on a bug’ or ‘the fish sticks were yucky but the mac and cheese was good’, I love the way my daughter and I snuggle up for a cup of milk before bed and when I go pick her up at school and see her playing so sweetly with the other babies. I especially feel like I’m a better mom, more patient and really enjoy every moment (well most of them) of time with my children because I’m not at my wits end by 2 o’clock in the afternoon, calling my husband to find out what time he will be home.

  9. I like being able to go to the bathroom without having to talk to anyone through the door. I like being able to get through a meal at work without jumping up every five seconds to get something for someone. I like not having to answer the most mundane questions (i.e., “How many days until Halloween?” “How many minutes until dinner?” “What does P-I-O-N-E-E-R-S spell?”) like the ones I just answered in the last five minutes. I like that there’s usually no one running through my office and that when I tell someone to do something, they usually do it. Finally, I LOVE being able to close my office door and hear nothing but QUIET.

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