I love my job. I can’t think of anything else I’d enjoy more. The mix of people I get to meet and mingle with, the variety of daily events, the newness of a semester, the pace of the academic calendar, and the mandate (?) to study all combine to make it a pleasure to come to work. Sure, there are those days when I get annoyed, tired, or frustrated; in fact, sometimes I feel all three states at once! Most of the time, however, there’s something cool about everyday, and this morning has been no exception.
As I was checking my email, a man from Jordan who’s been living in America for a couple of decades came by the office to say good morning. He’s also an employee at the local hospital, and he and I gave blood there the day before Thanksgiving. That day we both got t-shirts and a lunch coupon for the hospital cafeteria. Next time, according to Khalid, the prizes include two drawings for $500 each. A few minutes later a man who took psychology this past summer came by to say hello. He’s taking history and speech this spring, and he reminded me that he had chosen to take psychology first in order to “get it over with.” Allen also said (no joke) that the class had changed his life for the better. What a charmer. Then a young woman came by to ask if I knew anything about sociology, and if so, would I advise taking that or history? Kametria also mentioned that she liked my new hair style…said it made my eyes pop. I’m all about popping eyes. Before class, I resumed reading my email and saw a message from a former student, a female jockey, who always forwards fun and unusual things. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of too many other professions in which a person could meet so many interesting people.
The hallway is beginning to get a little noisy, a signal that 9:30 classes are ending and the 11:00 ones will be starting soon. Time to “rock and roll” as a former colleague used to say. Today we’re discussing genetics and prenatal development, and many of the students are in the nursing program. They keep me on my toes.
I’m going to miss this when I retire in a year or two. Wonder what’s next. Message to all of you young people out there: Your way of “making a living” soon becomes a way of “making a life.”
mom's musings 
Your way of “making a living” soon becomes a way of “making a life.”
Thank you for the reminder!! That is why I am busting to get my dream off the ground. I couldn’t take doing what I do for another two decades.
Sounds like you’re motivated! Some people (lots, in fact) say “someday,” and then they sadly realize that it’s TOO LATE. Trite but true quote: “If not now, then when?”
I so agree with you! I love my job too. Not only because I get to talk with adult women (grin) but because it’s perfect time frame, etc. Thanks for visiting my site…I wanted to say you were so right about blogs vs writing — I find the more time I spend reading other blogs the less I write as well. The problem is, I love to read almost as much as I love to write….hmmmmm 😉
I have that problem too (reading)! Maybe we should make a pact to write on our projects for a minimum of one hour a day…more if we have time and if we can drag ourselves away from blogging. It’s just that blogging is so interesting because of all of the people you get to meet and learn a little about.
Your way of “making a living” soon becomes a way of “making a life.” What a great quote. Students would do well to consider this before they declare a major. Today I went car shopping with my daughter. Our salesman was an attorney who didn’t like the practice.
As for blogging vs writing, I think that the two are complimentary. The problem lies in allocation of time and the discipline to stick to your schedule not in chosing one over the other. The Power of Focus by Mark V. Hansen is a great little book on how to maximize your time. Mark is the author of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series in case you didn’t know.
I wish I could take credit for the quote, but I’m pretty sure I read it somewhere along the line. I ALWAYS find a way to insert it into my Industrial Psycholgy/Human Relations classes because it’s so true.
Blogging vs. writing…I like your thought that the two are complimentary and that a person (me in this case) needs to allocate the time needed for each AND to stick to it. Before this day is done, I going to be disciplined enough to do some background reading for an article I want to write.
I’ll have to check out the Hansen book. I’m familiar with several of the Chicken Soup books (especially the first two) but didn’t remember who had written or compiled them. Seems like I read somewhere that they were rejected several times before a publisher took a chance on the books. What a winning decision for all of them…and us too!
How true!! Time does pass so quickly and I love the quote.