Welcome to the working world, where you get up early and stay up late. Welcome to the working world, where you go nonstop until your lunch break and only then realized you forgot to breathe. Welcome to the working world, where your life consists entirely of eating, studying, working, and occasionally sleeping.
Welcome to the working world, where you come home with a smile and sense of huge accomplishment, knowing that you made a difference today. Welcome to the working world, where your efforts are rewarded with a thank you, a smile, and a meaningful conversation. Welcome to the working world, where despite your exhaustion, you look forward to going back tomorrow.
For the first time since graduating, I have a full-time teaching gig. I started last week, and while I cannot remember the last time I was ever this exhausted in my life, I love it, and I cannot begin to express how thankful I am to have the opportunity.
Work is something that people love to complain about. I understand it, I do. I’ve complained about various jobs I’ve held more times than I can count over the past few years. Since I started full time last Monday, I have literally done nothing except eat, sleep, and work. It is entirely overwhelming, and yet right now, I refuse to complain.
I refuse to complain, because having been without a steady job for the past five months, I know just how much better it is to be busy than bored. To be stressed about getting the job done rather than stressed about having no purpose. To be bone-tired rather than restless.
So while I don’t have the time right now to read, or write, or take a nap, when people laugh and say to me “Yeah honey, welcome to the working world,” I cherish it. Thank you. Welcome indeed; we don’t always appreciate what we have until we view it from the other side.
This week, let’s be thankful for the hard work we are able to do, and the lives that we change while doing it.
-K
