T: Work to Live vs. Live to Work

Lately readers I have been having a recurring conversation with a few friends of mine and after some thought I have decided the topic of conversation is probably a relatively new one.

A good friend of mine recently wrote a blog entry (http://youandi365.blogspot.com/) about the disillusionment of what we think will happen upon graduation (that we will walk into a cushy job with copious amounts of perks and respect…and a corner office) and what actually happens (a road paved with months of self-doubt, confusion and endless ego-bruising job application submissions/interviews at the end of which lies a decent job with minimal perks, stability and pay).

This blog entry coincided perfectly with a recurring conversation that has popped up in my life over the last little while. A few of my friends are now in jobs that they worked extremely hard to get into after graduation. A few of them are even sitting in the job after the job after the job they got after graduating. However, they all seem to be lacking in the contentment area. It seems as though our generation has this new concept, that I don’t believe our parents (and certainly not our grandparents) ever thought of, the idea of deriving one’s happiness SOLELY from one’s work.

Now I would like to remind all of my friends – we are young and as Laragh (youandi365) stated, we are “in transition”. Simply because we have all found ourselves in roles that we relate to being “adults” (perhaps you have a mortgage, RRSP, TFSA, life insurance…or all of the above) we expect that we should all be settled in our identity and in turn that we should stop growing as individuals. I do not believe this is the case. I believe we must remember that a) not all of one’s contentment can be drawn from a single source (not a friend, a boyfriend, a hobby…or a job); b) where you are now as an “adult” does not necessarily predict where you will always be and c) as harsh as this sounds…not everyone can be happy at work.

I do not mean to say that everyone should dread getting up in the morning, simply that our generation has this idea that everyone in life should work only at what they love and not settle for less. I hate to break it to you guys….society doesn’t work like that. Yes, some people will be so lucky…but the other jobs must be done as well. Not every societal role will fill a deep engrained passion…but perhaps you can find something else that will.

Words of wisdom from my Father: “Work isn’t always what you love. Work is what ENABLES you to do what you love.”

T: Awkward Injuries

I have accidentally discovered one of the most awkward situations in modern society.

Last night while playing for rec-league softball team (and “playing” is giving me more credit than I deserve) I had an unfortunate injury. While playing catcher I attempted to catch a ball thrown by my team’s first base player…attempted being the operative word.

Now, let’s first cover the fact that my wonderful bf has attempted to teach me the safest way to catch while all the while stressing the importance of how to hold my mitt in order to avoid being hit in the face. Well…I guess I didn’t listen very well to his lectures since the ball bounced off my mitt and hit me square in the eye. I was a little fuzzy and dizzy feeling but I shook off the run I had just allowed the other team and continued to play.

When I got home my eye had begun to swell and bruise.

To be honest I was a bit excited, after all I have never had a black eye in my life (aside from the minor bruising associated with a broken nose)…I felt pretty tough! (Regardless of the gross feeling in my stomach that hit when I realised my bf’s parents would be visiting this weekend)

This morning I slipped on my sunglasses on my way to work and never thought it would be a big deal. Once word of what happened to me got around the office it would be old news within minutes and I could continue business as usual. Man, was I wrong. It seems as though the black eye is this only injury that involves no one asking about it due to the fact that they are afraid they may not want to know about your abusive relationship….well I can tell you – when you don’t ask, you just stare at my eye and wince, you just made me feel like I did get punched and now I should hide it…I just wish they would ask. In the future folks unless someone looks as though they are super ashamed of their black eye just assume a sports related injury and get on with it…let’s make this easier on everyone!

Looks like Ill be wearing sunglasses all night at Bluesfest!! The Black Keys might look a bit blacker than usual through tinted shades

T: Ottawa and Summer…the love affair continues

So Friends this one will be quick because it is Ottawa and it is summer which means there are a hundred things going on at all times and all of them = pretty awesome.

At the moment I’m still recovering from exhaustion from Canada Day, think 500,000 in downtown aren’t enough? why not invite the royals? let’s double it! That amount of people could exhaust absolutely anyone….not to mention the small army of mid-20s guys who slept in the living room (“perk” to living with the bf?).

It feels nice to finally have my space back (even though it was most likely some of the most fun/hardest laughing I’ve had/done in a while) but I haven’t really enjoyed the inside much…or my new a/c, because there is so much to do it is overwhelming!!!

This month is Ottawa Bluesfest and it looks like I’ll get to see a few of my faves. I have already been lucky enough to see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. They were as amazing and talented and weird as I thought they would be…and so was the crowd – “hello, intense patchouli and cigarillos smell I don’t believe we have met before”. 

I also saw some of The Flaming Lips (how do I get to be one of the cheerleaders on stage?)…although didn’t escape with a giant balloon from the show, like a girl I saw on the walk home. Annnnd the grand finale? Soundgarden – got to see them play the song from my favourite video of all time (black hole sun) and was provided with abundant entertainment by the girl in front of me using her boyfriend as a stripper pole.

This weekend I will be hitting up the Black Keys and Rise Against one night and The Tragically Hip and Erykah Badu the next. Wish me luck, if you’re looking for me on monday I’ll be the one snoring and drooling on my desk at the cubicle on your right

Hope your summer is living up to your wildest dreams!!! I know one of my oldest friends Erin’s is as she was recently engaged to the love of her life…Congrats Erin and Sean

<3 T.