What do you do?

How often are we asked that question? What they mean is “what do you do for work.” It means more than that, of course. So many of us are defined by our jobs that we usually get a good idea what someone is like by knowing their job.

Most of us self define ourselves by the work we do. I am an engineer. I am a factory worker. I am a nurse. I am a carpenter. Instead of doing that, change your mental landscape a bit. Say: I am myself, who currently is making a living as a carpenter. You job is something you do, not what you are.

In a busy life, we do many things. We are more than a cog in a machine. Defining yourself by your job is self limiting. It’s one of the things that keeps people doing the same thing year after year.

What happens to a person who identifies with their job and then loses it? They have a bad time. They don’t know who they are any more. Not only do they have to deal with a loss of income, they have to deal with a loss of identity.

I think that’s why so people complain about being retired. Retired has a lot less status than worker, professional, manager, boss, or whatever the job was. Retired -put out to pasture. Useless.

People who’s lives are full of other things look at retirement as a blessing. More time is now available to do the other things they enjoy. Sadly, too many people have too few other things to enjoy -even people who don’t even like their jobs.

Imagine being defined by a job you hate. Why would someone let that happen to themselves?

Yesterday I was hanging out at the farmer’s market, talking to a farmer. We were talking about tractors and diesel engines, among other things. Eventually, he asked the question, “what do you do?”

“I’m doing it,” I said.

-Sixbears