Helpless

Just had recent conversations about the "dreariness" of work with two people whom I hold dear. Now, am not saying that I don't usually have my own litany of complaints about work... I do, in fact, Miss S and I just had a two hour dinner where we shared our work battles for the day. But the point is, we are mostly contented, happy and for all the story telling... it's just sharing of that day's experiences, and just "letting off some steam".For these two individuals, it's a different story altogether, what I heard was something very different. It was discontentment, and of the nature that could not be easily fixed, as it stems from idealism of what work IS.

Think it’s the value of worth that we learnt in school. Often we were told that when we finally embark into society, based on the education that we receive, we will be able to contribute, give advice, lead, etc. As such, many are demoralized when we realize that we apply maybe only a tenth of what we learnt at school in the work place, and that the classroom perfect scenarios just are not replicated in the world outside. A typical work day for most will be filled with admin, and the time wasting “P” word, politics… be it just pandering to the boss, fending off needless assignments, or posing in servitude to clients. Gone is the lofty impression that you are here to “create” value. After all, how much value can be created from packing the stationery cupboard? Wherein the value of many years of education when you are at the beck and call of the client just because he IS rich from birth?

Many, like Miss S and me, find the little joys of work that keep us happy. In a way, we throw much of the idealism out of the window, and take pride in the little assignments completed. If, along the way, we manage to avoid the spanners that get thrown in our way, or win some little battles, so much the better. Not saying that the way forward is to “ignore all”, but there is definitely a certain tolerance level built. But how do you explain that to those who feel that they need to be doing something meaningful, and that there is a need to be recognized for that work? Who hold on to the belief that the classroom scenario of “hard work will be rewarded in equal measures, all else being equal”? So I was thus somewhat speechless throughout the conversations. Recognised the “despair” that I was hearing on the other end, but totally helpless at trying to communicate a balance in opinion.