I’m not sure if something is fundamentally wrong with me, but I don’t like to work. Go ahead and cue the eyerolls, but I’m serious. It’s more severe than the typical case. It brings tears to my eyes and a pit to my stomach. It shifts me completely.
Now before you write me off as lazy, it’s not that I don’t enjoy doing work. I’ve been in creative fields for nearly five years and for the most part I enjoy the tasks I do. When I was a journalist, I loved being able to meet new people and interview them; to learn about the journey that brought individuals to one space or another. I didn’t enjoy my fellow coworkers running my stories through Grammarly and then questioning why I had higher ranks than them if I didn’t use any “outside help” or the fact certain stories wouldn’t be published due to affiliations with the subjects such as local police departments. Unfortunately, both of those are true stories that along with the pitiful wage forced me to pivot.
I do enjoy events, galas and other opportunities that allow for people to connect, learn and celebrate. I just can’t justify why, in almost 2025, we are still requiring people to occupy building space for the sake of it.
I imagine some of my attitude towards this particular workforce issue stems from beginning my professional career in the midst of a global pandemic. I was able to do my job well from the comfort of home. There was still collaboration and meetings just without the commute and needing to wake up earlier to pack my lunch. Americans were able to get back some of their day, tending to laundry and other tasks that were formerly squeezed into the measly four hours following the end of a stereotypical work day. Not counting that one must commute, either cook or find food, decompress, workout, take care of family and God forbid have some time to themselves. The pandemic showed us that time is finite and precious. Why are we still justifying spending so much of it unnecessarily?
I stopped complaining of this for a myriad of reasons.
The number one being that it’s against my religion. No, literally. Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Paul is telling the church of Philippi not to complain and grumble, especially in the midst of a world that doesn’t believe in the message of Christ Jesus, as it taints our witness. It doesn’t allow the light of God to shine because He is not one who grumbles or complains, and it is we who boast loudly that we can do all things through Him. I believe He is able and willing to help me even through this.
The second reason being that those presently in the charge of the workforce don’t agree. When I speak to my mother or grandmother they remark as if this is an unchangeable thing that I must accept and dutifully perform for the next 30 years. Not being dramatic, but I rather go on to Glory.
Those currently in upper-level management have had this same experience that my generation has begun to resent. They put in their hours, stayed at the office late, neglected their children and health. They’ve made immense sacrifices and swallowed any unhappiness. Perhaps they would even say today that it was well worth it.