How's Work?

Three different people asked me this question in the past two weeks.  I didn’t have an answer.  I never talk about my job.  I never discuss work.  You will never hear me starting a conversation, “Let me tell you what happened at work.”

Work is work.  It is a means to an end.  My job allows me to enjoy the life that I live outside of work.  Period.  It’s not a career.

That used to bother me.  It used to make me sad.  It used to send me down long and winding roads searching for the perfect job or that awesome career.  Not anymore.  I have learned to be content in my present situation and I have stopped looking for happiness in outside sources.

I like my job.  It’s not hard and it’s rarely stressful.  Busy but not stressful.  I like my boss and my co-workers.  I have great benefits.  It’s not far from my house and I have the flexibility to work from home when I need to.  I make a good living which allows me to enjoy the little extras.  No, it’s not my dream job but it allows me to pursue various dreams.  Like visiting Chicago last year or cruising to the Bahamas just because I wanted to or hiring a personal trainer or going back to school.

I advise my kids to figure out what they love and find a way to make that a career.  Good advice I guess – they are still finding their way.  I tried to apply it to myself but for the life of me, I don’t know what I love.  I’m slowly figuring it out.  To be truthful, I spent so many (wasted) years being a part of other people’s dreams that I never allowed myself to develop any of my own.  My bad.

What do I love?  Right now, I am loving this fitness journey and the figure competitions.  I love working out.  I love lifting heavy weight.  I love the cardio.  I love eating healthy.  I love watching how my body responds to the changes I’m making.  Can any of this be turned into a career?  Doubtful.  Your first thought would be that I could be a trainer and help other people.  Um no.  Taking money to help someone means that I would have to put up with their whiny bulls*it.  Ain’t nobody got time for that.  Believe it or not, everyone at the gym is not serious about making changes.  Everyone has a different motivation.  I can work with someone who has the same focus as I do.  I can’t deal with someone who just wants to hang out and uses the gym as their social hour.  This is why I enjoy making videos that include updates, tips, recipes … whatever.  People who are interested can click the video and those who aren’t can simply bypass it.

Speaking of clicking and/or bypassing, I’ve created a fan page on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/MicheleMatthewsFitnessCompetitor?ref=hl

The page is strictly dedicated to fitness and will document my competitions, etc.   If you’re interested, head on over and give the page a “like”.  Thanks in advance.

So, how’s work?