The Day Job 05/16/2011
 
My day job is a great one!  I work with struggling readers and help them find literacy; a skill they will utilize throughout their lifetime.  I work ten months a year, and yes, I'm off when it snows!  In spite of these obvious perks, I have dreamed of quitting my day job.  When my girls were little, I so desperately wished to be home with them.  As they grew, I still hoped that maybe someday I could work less and be at home more.  Now, with our oldest in college and our youngest not far behind, I realize the possibility of my leaving the workforce is a distant one.  Yet, I continue to amuse myself and others with schemes that would allow me to "give up the day job".  I even found a book about how it is done!  Quitter by Jon Acuff is a book devoted leaving your day job and  attaining your dream job.  For me, my dream job would be to work from home and write.  However, there are bills to pay, tuitions to consider, and the responsible adult stuff, like health insurance.  Not to mention the fact that I have yet to get published.  Reading  this book is giving me a new outlook on the day job.  I now see myself as blessed to have had a 25+ year career in education.  It has been my day job, and our financial  lifeline.  Most of my friendships have come from work, and I have met some wonderful people.  Generous friends I have leaned on, cried with and been blessed to have.  My career has also allowed me to participate in exciting opportunities I never would have sought on my own.  Travel, classes, speakers, training, all of these have come from teaching .  Not to mention, I met my husband at work! I have to admit, all humor aside, my day job has been a miraculous gift.    I know one day I will leave my day job, and it probably won't be because I finally got that book published.  Until then, I hope make a greater effort to see my work as a source of gifts. (No, the schemes and humorous plans will never end, I find them just too entertaining!)   JMH
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