“Rick is just isn’t the same anymore.” My college friend said to me about a mutual friend. “I really thinks his work has changed him.”
We both remember Rick with a near perpetual smile. Now he has a scrunched up frown most of the time.
I recall meeting him for lunch during a work day. Ugh… It took him about 30 minutes to get out of his super serious, grumpy work self. Normally, I would meet him on weekend nights where his “change” was less evident.
Rick is not the only. I’ve seen other friends shift due to their works. “Putting out another fire” is how one of my law school friends will answer when asked how he is doing. He had been the funniest guy in our law school class.
I’m now of an age where I can confirm that “career” impacts not only the time at work but all of life. How could it not? Unlike factory and farm work where – despite the challenges and I don’t mean to romanticize either – the work was left in the warehouse or the field, knowledge workers bring their work everywhere. Their phones/computers/I-pads are part of fun – and work – always.
Liz was a twentysomething from West Hartford who was having career angst. I knew here father when he was a young man and, although we had essentially lost touch, he saw that I was a career counselor and connected the two of us.
She told me that she didn’t want to be like him because he’s always in a bad mood. “Not the man I knew, I said.”
“Really?! He’s always complaining about work….”
Liz noted that she didn’t need to love her job but she at least wanted to like it.
I agreed.