The reality of work

Hey, How are you?

That is a real genuine question, by the way, and that is irrespective of whatever state of mind that you find yourself in today. I hope that you are finding space to rest, to breathe; I hope you are giving yourself the grace to slow down, not just to catch a breather, but to take in all that you have done. My Sunday School teacher said something that felt quite profound but irritated me a little bit, and he said: “The reward for a job well done is more work,” and as much as I agree, it also bothers me that I might never stop working in whatever form that is, till the day I die. If you know me, you would know that does not align so much with my brand of constant procrastination and 2-hour afternoon naps. It never ends, this tiresome grind, and it's easy to just move on to the next thing without taking stock of what has gone on before. But this is a plea to take some time to pause, close this tab if you have to(I would much prefer if you don't), and just breathe.

‍But is Work/Life balance a pipe dream?

For as long as I can remember, I have always had big dreams and wild dreams; I have been labeled a daydreamer by the very people that brought me into this world. A bit in banter, but I think they held onto hope for the longest time that maybe the visions of an eight-year-old were worth something. Well, I'm not getting any younger, and their long-standing faith has since drained till the last bit, but I have never stopped thinking up wild dreams; there is just a slight tinge of realism to them now, and then there is the horrid bit of work that needs doing to validate my dreams, but they are still there. And I'll say this now just so we are on the same page here, that no matter how much I romanticize the need to be brave, to start, to follow your dreams, to attract love, to exercise, to improve on all fronts, to be an invaluable member of your team, all of these require a considerable level of consistent and committed arduous work over a very long period and, dare I say, over a lifetime.

‍

Work could be anything from chores to late nights, early mornings, and long meetings, and then there is becoming a worker in the vineyard of God. Work dictates our sleep patterns and our meal habits; our mental health threshold and stress levels are hinged around the emotional balance of our workplace leaders. Work now infiltrates our private spaces and regular conversations, taking up valuable real estate on our notifications bar and ever more increasingly in our homes. I am not against working from home in any way, but there are a great many places that could provide a more scenic space to work from than being clustered up with three different HD cameras watching you in your own home. And this is not a crusade against the way work has taken shape over the last 50 years(actually, it is); I just think they are broken for the world that we live in today. And in a country such as Nigeria, with a disregard for labor laws and a strong rhetoric of suffering and hard work, it's no wonder why Gen Z are getting burned out more than their parents who have been working for 25 years. 

‍

Do I believe that there are people who enjoy the day-to-day of their work schedule? Yes, I do; in fact, not only are they enthused by the work that they do irrespective of their pay packet, but they also don't feel stifled in their roles; there is no ceiling or embargo above their heads, and they are afforded the time to not only unwind but to experience the full glossary of life, to immerse themselves deeply into religion or step away from it(But stay with God kids), to not only feel financially secure but also have the freedom to travel the length of the world taking in all the ancient ruins and evolving cultures; And If you ever wanted to get on a plane to work from a completely different country or 12 different countries, you should check out Remote year. I think the biggest impact of the work that we do should be beyond ourselves, beyond the walls of an office, beyond our immediate families, and a select group or demographic. Our work should target the next generation of young people in our schools, in our towns and villages who are willing to go above and beyond to create a future on their terms irrespective of their background.

‍

I know; I've sprung up another romantic tale that somehow paints slogging at a 9-5 as something to desire and not a means to an end. A very good percentage of the human race will never be privileged enough and will never gain access to the required tools to pursue a career that affords their survival needs and gives them room for their private desires. And at the other end of the scale, financial security and creative freedom with all its perks and benefits do not give us assurances of a beautiful life. But whether you get a six-figure compensation with RSUS or you are working six days a week on a salary below $100, we have to define what is valuable to us, our “non-negotiables” to quote my manager, if its our health, or our families, or our sense of wonder of the world. We should never forget how lucky we are that we are paid what we are worth or even receive any wage at all, but some things are not worth losing for all the money in the world.

ST.

‍

One day I will share money to all who make it this far, for now here is a book on African literature detailing the fictititous wipe out of a great nation based in the creeks of the Niger Delta

The extinction of the Menai

‍

Till next time comrades.