For the last time I have put work ahead of myself, family, or friends.
I recently worked on our anniversary, complicated budget calculations, a lengthy debate, and I let that intrude into dinner out that evening.
Never again.
For the last time I have worked on a birthday, or a holiday, or skipped a family event because it didn't work with my work schedule.
For the last time I have canceled a vacation because duty called. I regret those deeply, opportunity passed, and the moment may never present itself again.
For the last time I have put the duty to the job, ahead of taking care of myself and loving my family and friends.
For the last time, I have worked just a little more after dinner.
For the last time, I have checked my office messages in the middle of a conversation with a friend or family member.
We sacrifice for jobs, that don't often sacrifice for us.
Don't wait until you are ready to retire to make this declaration, make it now.
Once you leave work or switch off at the correct time at home, you are no longer being paid, so work is not your problem. I just do not understand why people don't refuse to 'work' after hours and out of paid time. That is unless they are paid to be on call.
ReplyDeleteAnd we do.
DeleteI love that stairway. J looks right at home.
ReplyDeleteA nice French Restaurant in Alexandria
DeleteI also look old.
DeleteNo you don't. Just distinguished.
Delete"We sacrifice for jobs, that don't often sacrifice for us." I get this entirely. No one will ever know the time, energy and sheer commitment I put in to being a high school English teacher. In return, the system just coughed me out like phlegm. There are no medals.
ReplyDeleteWe so under pay teachers.
DeleteI taught university for nearly 30+ years; we didn't get treated much better. Tenure was the one thing that always made it bearable... but just barely.
DeleteBeing self-employed, I find work (and deadlines ) are always at the back (or forefront, depending) of my mind. Next year, I will cut back significantly, and I am looking forward to a new sense of mental freedom. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement, with time to be spent (mostly) as you please!
ReplyDeleteit is hard to draw a line between work and personal identity
DeleteSo many sacrifices are made in the work world. We've all been there for sure.
ReplyDeleteI urged my boss's boss to put her family first just yesterday.
DeleteYou've made these declarations and now stick to them. 64 more days!
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to it.
DeleteI really try and keep my personal life and plans at the forefront and am lucky now to have a boss who knows that when I say I can't do something because of a prior commitment that it's true.
ReplyDeleteI rarely say I can't but when I do I mean it.
I have never been good at that.
DeleteMore excellent, life-supporting advice. I think I'm lucky with my current part-time work. I work for a place that seems to understand the work-life balance issues.
ReplyDeleteNow if I can follow my own advice.
DeleteBravo, bravo, bravo!!! 😘😘😘
ReplyDeleteAnd then I am working on your birthday :(
DeleteUsual the major holidays I took off.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on.
I have worked too many holidays over the years.
DeleteJust this morning I had to ask my analysts to look ahead and let me know what time off they wanted for the December holidays. Inevitably my response to their leave requests is "You've earned the time. It is yours."
ReplyDeleteHowever, do as I say, not as I do. I remember working the first pandemic Easter Sunday. Let's just say that it did not contribute to household harmony - even though everyone was housebound. I have also justified putting in extra time on the weekend on the basis that I would rather have a mildly unpleasant weekend than a disastrous Monday.
I may be 6 months behind you in the winding it all up curve. The big experiment will be 6 weeks in the desert after Christmas. We'll see how well I do with unstructured time.
Will Jay