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Hallcarlo's avatar

This is a great meditation on work. I've cycled through jobs, and for years this carried a strange, opaque shame. Why couldn't I find the thing? My purpose! My perfect spot to excel! Although many successes came and went, the wiggling feeling that I was doing it all wrong persisted. Writing puts space between the feeling and the experience. A focus on that space, rather than the scope of "job as life," eases the tension. Meaning is often found, for me, in the space between, not in the thing itself. Finally, someone (it was my therapist) appointed me the title "creative seeker," and that felt a little more snug and secure. Anyway... I'm going to give this prompt a go. And it brought to mind A&P by John Updike — a masterful example of finding mystery, wonder, and growth in the mundane moments of the job.

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David W. Berner's avatar

First job was a paperboy. (When there we such things) Then I worked on a golf course in the summers. Had music gigs with a band for several years. Got into radio. My main career for decades. Then tenured college professor. Then freelance mentor and writing teacher. All this along with my writing and publishing. I wouldn't of had it any other way. The next best question is what job would you HAVE LIKED to have, even if just for a short time?

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