Aaaannd I suddenly realized exactly what's wrong with my job. I'm good at it, I'm paid for it, and probably the world needs someone to teach intro undergraduate science, but I don't love it. It is not challenging, I do not find it a wonderful or stimulating use of my intelligence and skills, and I do not (in the grand scheme of things) find it delightful. So, yes, I'm comfortable, but not satisfied.
(There are many worse problems to have. I could have a job that is useless, hateful, and ill-compensated! However, I have the luxury to not love my job, and I don't. All the Misery Poker in the world won't make it so.)
Still, eternally, working on an exit plan. The expiration date is when Sweetpea goes to school, in three years - coincidentally, also when Dr. S goes up for tenure* - after which I will, so help me, be doing something else.
*probably; he may go up a year early, For Reasons.
Thank you for this image! This is exactly the food for thought I need right now as I contemplate the demise of my current career and wonder about Plan B, C, D... Z
ReplyDeleteWe should catch up by phone sometime! I miss you!
Yes, we very much should! (I don't think there's only one thing that can fill in those blanks - but it's hard to figure out What Am I Even Doing With My Life, isn't it?)
DeleteP.S. I love that you still use Belle as a pseudonym here
DeleteI love that you gave my such a nice pseudonym. How else am I supposed to identify myself?
DeleteWhat a fantastic graphic! I'm probably on the opposite side of the ikigai from you. I love being at home, I'm good at it, and I feel like my family needs it now (and by extension, the world?). But, it's not like I get paid. Unless you figure that Patrick's income is mine as well...
ReplyDeleteI hope you do find a different job that you actually like.
I think Patrick's more-than-adequate compensation, as long as you're both happy with the situation, can work for both of you! Some of mine is, small town, few childcare options, K's salary is good but not fantastic, so unless I'm working it's All Small Child All The Time, and that whole third child thing did a reset (SIX MORE YEARSSSS WHYYYY). I think your gardening and volunteering and home-running is very valuable - and I also feel that those voids in my life are not adequately filled by endless PB&J sandwiches *or* by teaching. I'm sure we'll talk about it at great length next month....
DeleteThat's a really cool graphic. I feel like there should be another set with no intersection that's all "crazy tedious stuff that drags me away from all of this." I'm supposed to be creating a plan for what I'm going to accomplish over the summer today, and ...blah. I think I'm in the "satisfaction but uselessness" category right now...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, definitely food for thought!
ReplyDelete