The guys down at the Mule Barn Truck Stop think tank ponder a most important question today, “Do you like the work you do?” While posed with a hint of amusement, that really is an important question for all of us to consider. How many people are ground down in a job they hate just for the paycheck? I think it’s a shame that happens to too many folks.
I’ve been lucky most of my life to have worked at jobs that were satisfying beyond the Friday paycheck. What about you? Are you in a job now that you’d like to ditch? If so, what would you rather be doing?
As you contemplate your answers, grab a to-go cup of coffee and join the guys at the sale barn.
But before you go, consider hopping over to Amazon to pre-order Evelyn Evolving, my latest novel. The story is based on my mother’s life, and I’m so happy that Creativia Publishing is releasing the book, first as an ebook for Kindle, with a paperback to follow. Most of my life I wanted to write about my mother’s life-long struggles, and the book finally came together over the past few years. To say it is special to my heart is an understatement.
Down at the sale barn Saturday, the think tank had coagulated there with coffees to go to celebrate spring. Doc and Dud had their dogs with them, while Bert and Dewey and Steve went stag.
“I thought about it a lot,” Dud said, “and I wondered what the favorite part of my job was, and wondered if you fellas ever gave that any thought, too.”
They nodded. Deeming it by mutual consent a worthy subject.
“With me,” Dud continued, “it wasn’t so much my job as it was my hobby. You know, writing that book. I’m claiming it as the best part of my job, anyway.”
Then Bert picked up the conversation thread. “Of course I’m retired now,” he said, “but when I was running the pawn shop, my favorite part of the job happened when a customer found something in there he really needed and ended up paying much less for it than he thought he’d have to.”
Doc laughed “And you made more on it than you thought you would, too,”
Bert grinned and nodded.
“Yep. That was good too. And you, Dewey?”
Our accident-prone pharaoh of fertilizer got a serious look on his face. He finally said, “The best part of the fertilizer business is seeing the difference it makes in the flower gardens around town. Now maybe it’s just my imagination, but I kinda like to take a little credit for a prettier town.”
“You deserve it, Dewey,” Doc said kindly. “Well now … with me it’s a little different. I have doctoring skills, of course, and it’s good when I can help someone, but these days the most satisfying part of my job is to check someone out thoroughly and find there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them. Now that’s special.”
They all looked over at the tall cowboy, Steve.
“Digging post holes,” he said. “That’s the only job a cowboy has where he can start at the top and work down.”
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Brought to you by Joe Collins, custom woodworker at the Old Mill Store in Wimberley, Texas. Stop in and say hi.
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Check out all of Slim’s award-winning books at www.slimrandles.com, and in better bookstores and bunkhouses throughout the free world.
All of the posts here are from his syndicated column, Home Country that is read in hundreds of newspapers across the country. I am always happy to have him share his wit and wisdom here.
Slim Randles is a veteran newspaperman, hunting guide, cowboy and dog musher. He was a feature writer and columnist for The Anchorage Daily News for 10 years and guided hunters in the Alaska Range and the Talkeetna Mountains. A resident of New Mexico now for more than 30 years, Randles is the prize-winning author of a dozen books, and is host of two podcasts and a television program.
This gives a person something to think about. Its pure joy to love the work you do. I have also been lucky to have worked at jobs which were near and dear to my heart.
Getting anxious to read your new book!
Thanks for stopping by, Jan. I remember my father telling me how important it is to be happy in the work you do. With all the stress in the world today, I think it’s even more important to be content at work. We certainly don’t need to add to our stress levels.