“We are tempted to reduce life to a simple search for happiness. Happiness, however, withers if there is no meaning. The other temptation is to disavow the search for happiness in order to be faithful to that which provides meaning. But to live only for meaning—indifferent to all happiness—makes us fanatic, self-righteous, and cold. It leaves us cut off from our own humanity and the humanity of others. We must hope for grace, for our lives to be sustained by moments of meaning and happiness, both equally worthy of human communion.” —Chris Hedges, War Is a Force that Gives Us Meaning
Nov 15, 11:56AM PST | 8 cheers | 1 comment
I was attending training for 2-year staff, and I was overwhelmed with feelings of incompetence and futility. My position is administrative, so I’m not getting the traditional practical experience that all these young people are getting, which simultaneously will make it impossible for me to have the judgment (or the credibility) to do my administrative job.
On the other hand, my boss has strong motivation to keep me on. I’m his “transition plan,” and he wants to retire in 10 years or so. His clock is ticking, and it will cost him to have to start over from scratch with someone new. So if I just manage to keep him happy, I’m in like Flynn. Of course, then there’s the 15 or so more years that I’d need to be filling his shoes without the wherewithal to do so. But maybe I’ll figure out some “transition plan” of my own by then.
Still, I can’t help thinking that if I got myself fired instead of quitting, I could at least collect unemployment while I tried to find a different job.
Nov 15, 11:49AM PST | 5 cheers | 2 comments
It’s just not happening for me.
Nov 15, 08:56AM PST | 1 cheer | 2 comments
I'm doing 26 things
