We all work. Some of us like the job we do, some us reject it, but since it provides for us, we do it anyway. People say that when you love what you do, it is no work anymore, but joy. Even that does not provide enough motivation for many to either find something to love in the present job or change it for something they can possibly begin to love, or at least enjoy… Not enough courage? Fear? Convenience? Punishment of self?

I consider myself extremely lucky, since I love my job. But it wasn’t always like that. My story may be a carbon copy of yours, but it is always easier to look at someone else’s predicaments without prejudice, so let me tell you…

My Father spent five long years during the Second War in a camp, so as long as I remember him, he was sick. Therefore he was always pushing us (my brother and I) to finish schools, which would give us an opportunity for a better profession. That’s why, after learning a bit of chemistry and loving it, I became a chemist. Then I had continued with Environmental Engineering as a continuation of chemistry.

In my long life I was working many jobs, and in different fields, liking them all. But when I came to Canada and at first was cleaning houses and working in a deli, I started to think about the essence of work.

We humans, in fact, never work for ourselves, we always work for others. But those “others” are not our bosses or the owners of the companies we work at. Those “others” are people around us, our countryman, our fellow human beings, our societies etc. Regardless what we do and where we work, this work properly done, changes our reality, improves other people’s life and enhances the environment and our Planet.

I think that is the reason why we should pay a lot of attention to teaching our children work ethics. Through our work done well we can truly build something much bigger then us. If we do our job with love and appreciation, we add value to the life of all. If children would be thought from very early age to take pride of their work, from putting toys aside when they are 3 years old, through reading books to enlarge their worldview when they are older, to choosing professions, which will allow them to fulfill their dreams when they are adults, I think we could turn our society around in one-two generations. Is that too long for your taste? I know that to corrupt something and demoralize people takes less time, but breaking away from wrong habits and re-installing proper ones takes a long and (often) painful time and process. But it is worth it.

If you have any thoughts on that, I’ll be happy to read them…