Me-2

I've loved my "jobs," i.e. the positions in which I've been employed, before my self-imposed retirement back in 2015. Why? Can anyone really answer "why they love their job" definitively? Well, I can; and, here are the reasons:

1. All my jobs were thoroughly professionally rewarding;
2. Every job helped me develop my technical and communication skills;
3. I met many wonderful people;
4. With every single employer, I mentored younger professionals;
5. At every single job, I was able to start and end my day with a smile; and,
6. Coming in and going out the door at work, I could see the smiles of others.

You really would not believe the number of people I interacted with on a daily basis. The interactions occurred both physically and virtually, i.e. via telecommunications like telephone, texts and emails plus on social media platforms.

No, I am not a famous person nor one of those people with millions or thousands of followers on social media. But being retired I still always have a number of things on the go; and, first and foremost, I just try to be there for people - family, friends, co-workers or whomever.

Maybe people need advice, a question answered or possibly require additional mentoring, on a writing, engineering, or even sometimes a personal issue to which I can legitimately respond. I'm not the person whose shoulder these people will cry upon. But I can direct people to special services - technical and personal - when required. To me this means a lot. That these people are willing to place their trust in me.

Is it really a job?

Sure, I get asked a lot, "So what do you do?" In other words, people are curious about the job at which I (currently) work. Sometimes, that is a difficult question to answer. Other times, I can give a "cookie-cutter" response.

Generally speaking, I currently will always say I work in communications. Now, communications is a field that can mean many things to many people.

Most recently, I was delivering newspapers at night to help make ends meet and pay the bills. You'd think that would be a part-time gig. No; far from it! Delivering newspapers in this region requires your effort seven (7) days a week, every day of a month. Sure it may only be for two to six hours a night resulting in a generous pay-out. But a contract news-carrier gets, if they're lucky, only statutory holidays off; so, maybe ten days in a year.

News-carrier work is something I had been meaning to write about in detail but shelved the conceptual outline some time ago. Not to worry, that topic is back on the front burner simmering again. I'll publish the story sometime in the coming month.

Don't look at any work as a job!

So, now instead of delivering the news, I might at times be writing in regards to news media coverage of events. No, I am not a professional journalist or writer for publications. I am like many others on social media.

Now, with being back to writing full-time, I'm getting the chance again of pursuing my dream in both areas of creative fiction and entertaining non-fiction. Some of what I write will be fully for my own enjoyment while I will submit works for various Vocal challenges. Fiction is an interesting category in which to write. But I have to say, the truth found in non-fiction, when written in an entertaining manner, can really hold a reader - to the point of "I couldn't put it down."

There are a number of areas on social media where prospective writers can exchange ideas, one of which is The Vocal Creators Lounge on Facebook, in which I've contributed in the past and look forward to exchanging ideas in the future again.

Something I will never forget, are the words of a former teacher, "No job you do well that is not enjoyed doing should be done at all." Apologies for that double negative but those were, in essence, his words. To phrase it differently and put it in perspective: learn what you do well; find a job at which you can do it; and, then you may enjoy life.

Can you decide if you yourself are special?

So, not to stereotype, but if "you're like most people," you might be wondering, "So, what makes you so special? How can you think you or your job makes an impact on the world?" Sure, a "cookie-cutter" or "cut and dry" response would be nice.

To be truthful, I'm retired and like being an active contributor to society. My main focus is writing on subjects I choose. The bonus to this time in my life is I get to mentor others as I did in my previous career roles, i.e. jobs. But the greatest reward I usually get each day are those physical and virtual smiles of those with whom I interact.

NOTE: One chapter of my life - college - is already available on Vocal. At some point, I guess I shall have to write about the reason(s) for my "self-imposed" retirement of 2015. If you liked reading this story, I only ask that you ask others to read it too.

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