Work as a Choice

Work is a really odd word. My high school science textbook explained it as any action expending energy or force, or something like that.

What's even weirder are the actions we choose to define as work, our measure of effort, and the choices we make based on mismeasurement.

Since the storm just got stronger here at OMNI, guess I'll elaborate...

I was in college once not too long ago. Whenever there was something I truly wanted, I'd put any amount of work into getting it. Usually it was a trip, since I love traveling. I'd invest tons of energy planning the route, researching destinations, buying maps / gas / tickets / lodging, etc. When a challenge came up, like a blocked road, broken down car, lack of money - I'd even lose sleep over ensuring that I could still take that trip.

But for homework, college jobs, or something I had to do but didn't really want, I'd invest tons of energy avoiding it or trying to minimize the amount of "work" that needed to get done.

Let's compare a few common measurements of work:

Not Work:
Concerts
Arts & Crafts
Reading

Work:
Time Management
Sewing
Research

One day in 2008, when I was working as a secretary who felt forced to staple papers forever in order to pay for graduate school, it dawned on me that the difference between work and not work is CHOICE.

If you noticed, the "Not Work" category can be made into a job, and the "work" category suddenly becomes "Not Work" when paired with its job. Time Management is super fun when you're a musician arranging a tour or series of gigs. Sewing isn't that bad if you're suddenly getting paid for your handicrafts. And research is definitely better if you're reading because of something you really want to learn, or being paid as an editor to check the facts for a publication.

So, in January 2009 I quit my job, lived off savings for 8 months and helped write a grant for OMNI Center to get them 3 AmeriCorps*VISTAs and started working with TLC. It was hard, but the best investment of my life.

If many people realized that they did have a choice in their work (or at least their perspective of work) and invested as much energy in that choice as a college trip (with all the sleep deprivation, planning, and expenses) the very least consequence of that realization would be the instant abolishment of fast food.

My actions were extraordinary, yes, and I think that's a crying shame.