There are three natural stages to life: 1) Preparation for employment, 2) Employment, and 3) Retirement from employment.  Each stage involves work - even if we are not being paid for it.

During this Thanksgiving season, I want to express my thankfulness for work.  I'm a believer that we were made to work.  Always.  In each of life's three stages.  It is true, we are not always employed and we are not always employed in our area of calling, but there is always work for each of us to be doing.  Work gives meaning to our lives.

Work allows our hearts to express empathy

One of the great challenges of work is expressing empathy for those who are not easy to serve.  Some in the church world refer to these as EGRs (for "Extra Grace Required"). Our work should focus both on producing results and demonstrating attributes.  One of the surest ways to determine if a results-oriented worker is unbalanced in her focus is whether she expresses empathy for others.

Recently I used our bank's updated ATM that requires no envelopes or deposit slips.  I was transferring money by check from my business account to my personal account. Quicken showed that the money had gone into my account, but then come right back out.  I called the bank a bit frustrated and spoke with a kind employee who said she would research the problem and call me back.  Imagine my embarrassment when she told me I had printed the check from the same account I was depositing into.  She was gracious to me and didn't make me feel any smaller than I already did.  She didn't just provide the information I needed, she provided it with empathy for my shared humanity and need for understanding.

Work keeps our minds engaged

Afraid of how aging will impact your mind?  Worried by your lapses in memory?  Ever go through every name in your family before selecting the name of the person standing right in front of you?  Work keeps our minds engaged.  It allows them to be active.

Of course, not all work is adequately engaging.  A friend of mine who taught English told the story of counting tomatoes for his uncle's farm.  He was responsible for identifying the types and sizes of tomatoes that were shipped out each day.  His tally never matched the records of other workers, but his uncle always assumed he was right because he was the only college-educated family member.  The truth?  He was losing focus and thinking about the poetry he was writing and then when he came back to his surroundings he would make several checkmarks on his sheet to account for the crates that had just passed him by.  Clearly his work did not engage his mind sufficiently. That's a sign that you may need to look for other opportunities that are a better match for how your mind processes.

Work keeps our bodies energized

Sitting is the new smoking - at least that's what some would have us believe.  Much of our work takes place in front of computer screens, sitting in chairs.  Then there are farmers.  Our work can keep us energized as we move through our days.  Stand up while talking on the phone - it makes you a more engaging communicator.  Park farther away from the door and walk those extra steps.  Avoid the elevator when possible. There are ways for each of us to be active in our work.

My mentor in college said that while he was writing his dissertation he would get up once each hour and walk around the block.  One day he was stopped by a neighbor who thanked him: "I don't know who hired you, but it is great that we have such active security in our neighborhood."  He made a choice to remain active in his work and he was earning a PhD in philosophy.

Why are you thankful for work?

Perhaps you are thankful you are employed and able to provide for your family members. You may enjoy the camaraderie of your team.  Your work may allow you to express your creativity.  Perhaps you serve others and are able to see the difference you are making in their lives.

Whatever it may be, let's express our thankfulness for work while never forgetting to encourage others in what they do as an expression of who they are!  Every stage of life has its work to be done.  The day I complete my to do list is the day I stop living.

At Julian Consulting we help our clients find the meaning in their work through the expression of their strengths and the development of those around them.  Call TODAY to determine how we can serve you in this process.