Work: Some ill-considered comments
July 20th, 2008 by Bill
Many people suffer from physical and/or psychological problems because of work. These problems occur because they worry about work.
It’s understandable. No work? No payday. No payday? No home. No recreational drugs. No betting on NFL games.
You can see why people might worry.
It’s important to work in order to keep the daily steamboat of life going down the river. Perhaps more importantly, work (meaning the pay) means survival and, in this extravagantly leisurely Western culture we’ve constructed, a degree of comfort. (Football pools! Drugs! Sex with strangers who will sleep with you for a few free drinks, although sober they wouldn’t sleep with you even if it meant a cure for cancer.)
Most of the hoo-hah surrounding work, and by this I mean the physical and psychological issues, the worry of work, arise from thinking that what we do for work matters a damn. It doesn’t. For the vast majority of us, drunk monkeys on mescaline could be doing our jobs and no one would notice.
This is why computers and, previously, mechanical technologies replaced so many jobs. We’re not that necessary and we bitch and moan so much. And we break down at the drop of a hat.
Computers and machines don’t bitch and moan. And they don’t require dental plans.
I think we all can achieve a much higher degree of happiness – a lot less worry about work – If we accept that drunk monkeys on mescaline could be doing our jobs. Then? Well, who gives a rat’s rectum about the job? I go in. I do my work. I go home.
I get a pay cheque!
High times! Football pools and recreational drugs! Sex with strangers who … well, you know.
I think if we all accept that who we are and what we do are only remarkable by the astonishing degree to which we are so utterly unimportant, we can all achieve a state almost like Nirvana.
No more worry!
It’s not that hard to do. We’re not ending world poverty. Most of us are essentially shoveling shit through a spreadsheet. How could that be considered important?
Realize that what we do doesn’t matter. What’s to worry?
Think of the money to be saved on medical bills. Say “Adios!” to the therapist!
Another reason computers and other machines have taken over so many jobs? Computers and machines don’t talk about their jobs or their bosses all the time. No need to worry about inviting them to a party and having them bore all your guests to tears.
By the way, if you’re any kind of medical professional you should consider relocating to a place like India or China. A whole whack of jobs have been relocated over there, so there is a huge and growing population of new workers and that means physical and psychological problems because, of course, they’re all worrying about their jobs!
Some final thoughts? Don’t worry; be happy. Sure, it’s a cliché. But writing is work and I’m trying to pad. If I don’t fill my word quota, I could be replaced by a drunk monkey on mescaline!
When we end up going to the great unemployment line in the sky, none of us will be remembered for doing a good job. We’ll be remembered for getting naked at the annual Christmas party and goosing our boss’ wife.
The only work worth doing is the work that feels like play.
If I haven’t mentioned this, or if it isn’t abundantly obvious yet, as I write this I am playing!
Tag! You’re it!
(Note: this item is subtitled, “It’s only work if you don’t like it.“)
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