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Work is Fun?
It Better Be!
by Deborah Lighthart |
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Recently,
my 16 yr old daughter, Allyssa had the following conversation with my 3 yr
old daughter, Alanna:
Lyssa:
"What
do you think Mom did before she was a Mom?"
Lanna: "Mom
was always a Mom." Lyssa:
"What
do Moms do to relax and unwind?"
Lanna: "They nurse their Nickies." (Nicky is the newest
baby in our family and is still breastfeeding).
Lyssa:
"What
do Moms do for fun?"
Lanna: "They go to work."
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I
had quite a laugh over that at first, but after a little thought, I
realized there were many reasons that she would respond that way.
First it could be because for me, work is an escape from the
drudgery of my household tasks and the constant bickering of my
children. Or it could be that as the child of a psychic reader,
healer & artist, Alanna had never seen
me work in the traditional sense of the word. She has never seen me
unhappy with my job in any way shape or form. I decided many years
before she was born that I needed to do what brought me joy, and since then I have
done little else career-wise. My work is fun, by design. I simply
refuse to earn my living in ways that compromise my personal needs
too much. I do what I love and I allow it to bring in the money I
need. I live my passion and cannot imagine working in any other way.
But
it wasn't always this way. In fact, I have done many jobs that I
really did not enjoy, and some that I actually hated. When I gave
birth to my first child, I was a single mother working as a
waitress. I hated being away from my daughter. Hearing her cry over
the phone while I forced a smile to the customers at work just made
me hate myself as well as the job. One of the few marketable skills
I had was child care. I loved kids and kids loved me. So, I started
an in-home daycare. That was the beginning of doing what I love and
getting paid for it. I
realize that we are not the typical family and that it takes great
courage to start your own business and continue holding it together
even during the dry spells. Not everyone can pursue their dreams as
ferociously as I do, but there are many ways you can align your
wage-earning with your play-time. You can start by: |
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Just
Doing It ~
Find what you love to do and do it whether you are getting
paid or not. Sometimes the hobbies that make you happy can
eventually make you money.
Volunteer
~ Maybe
you want to do more than just explore your hobbies. Do what
you love as a volunteer or work by donation. People will appreciate
your sharing of your gifts and enthusiasm. It can open doors to
eventual job offers as well.
Finding
Your Passion ~ Some
people have focused for so long on things that they don't enjoy, they don't
have a clue how to find what they do enjoy. If that is
your case, then start small. Start with something you think you
might like and try it. Your heart will tell you when you hit the
right thing. It will drag you back again & again, because
ultimately joy is meant to be yours.
Love
the job you're with ~
By bringing as much enthusiasm and joy as you can to your current
position, it can transform the energy of it altogether. You may not
be doing what you love, but by loving what you are doing (to the
best of your ability) it will create positive energy around you and
make your work day brighter, creating a brighter environment
for everyone around you as well. Living in the self-created joy
already will help attract more joy in the rest of your world,
ultimately leading you to the path of working for fun.
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| They say, "Do
what you love and the money will follow." I have to say that it
does not always follow very quickly, but when you share from your
heart and live from your passion, people can feel it. Your emotion
carries through in your actions and creations. That vibration will
bring people to you, as they want to experience that joy &
passion themselves. You may not be able to quit your awful job
today, but you can take steps to bring yourself a little closer to
your true calling with each passing day, until one day you are
finally there. |
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