Trading One's Health for Money

So you're at a party and you are introduced to some new people.  The "Jenny this is Joe and Sarah, Joe and Sarah this is Jenny" scenario. Almost every time, the next topic of conversation is "what do you do for a living?" The moment when everyone measures one another on the status scale and finds their place, or puts others in theirs. It's an odd ritual and I think it stinks, but it still happens a lot. I try not to play that game, but it's easy to get sucked in, thinking that you might actually get to know these new people in a meaningful way. 

The idea that your success as a person, is directly related to your success in your job, or that your personal identity is what you do for a living seems to be a normal way of defining ourselves in the USA. It is a powerful illusion, that if we can only get that job with the correct job title that sounds important, or make enough money, or have the most ecologically friendly job, then we’ll be successful. Hooey. What we do for a living is not who we are. That said I know that making a living in this world is a necessity and it's nice to eat, and have heat in our home. However, working extra long hours in jobs that make us unhappy, and/or unhealthy, for money or status is not right. 

Trading one's health for money seems to be the norm. People who have worked hard and long at jobs that don't allow taking time to eat right, or get a modicum of exercise, or spend time with our loved ones. Jobs so stressful that it leads to smoking or other bad choices that impact our health. I believe that a good work ethic and working hard are really great qualities to be valued and strived for. But, we have put so much importance on our job title, the dollar sign, and the status that we trade our health for a paycheck. What I do is not who or what I am. I am a lot of things besides what I do for my paycheck which, by the way, I'm very thankful for. My value as a human does not diminish when I take a step back from that illusion of success and put my health before status, my relationships before the dollar sign. 

I might be taking a chance. A big one. Now that I have a part time job, I have less medical coverage and it’s a bit scary. Here's the thing though, my health is better. I have been spending more time at the gym, getting home at a decent hour, eating on time, sleeping better and having more time to spend with my loved ones and kitties. I have been spending less time at the Doctor's office, less time commuting, not stress eating, and have been spending less money on gas and medication. I think it’s been a good trade off. So when I'm introduced at the next party and asked what I do, I'll say "I try to be healthy and happy, what do you do?”

Loss, Transitions, New Beginnings, and Being Grateful

Loss, Transitions, New Beginnings, and Being Grateful

There has been a lot going on and I just couldn't write about it for a while. It is still kind of hard. Our family lost our dear father just after Thanksgiving and I am both grateful to have been there, and so heartbroken to lose our kind father. I'm thankful that my siblings and I were there to help Dad, and each other, through this transition. Having brothers and sisters that I can count on, and who could count on me, in this situation was such a blessing. We had a beautiful last Thanksgiving with Dad. I am so very grateful.

I have also moved on to a new job, which is supposed to be part time. However I have not worked part time yet and it looks like it will be full time through the end of the month at least. I'm hoping that the part time schedule will happen soon, so I have a little more wiggle room to work on my health and resting. The job is much closer to home and has already allowed me to go to the gym and get home at a decent hour, so the improvement is felt already. I really think it was a good move. I love the team I work with, they're hardworking, kind, smart and funny. Again, I am grateful.

It's interesting that the job change has given me a different outlook on my future. I’d been in the same job for about eight years and I thought I might actually retire from that same job at some point. However, this change has opened up my mind to new possibilities. I'm looking at my work future in a different way. Perhaps I might want to start my own business at some point, or find a work from home job later on, or maybe have a job that I don't even know exists yet. Not that I think that I need to make a change right away, or that I don't think I could be happy where I am now. It's just that the transitions was not as hard as I thought it would be and that gets me thinking that maybe there something out there in my future worth taking the risk for....What could it be? What could I do? It's kind of liberating.

On the health front, I'm doing OK. I've had a few flares during the stressful and emotional times, but all in all I am going OK. Still learning how to manage Lupus and my triggers. Learning how to protect myself from infection and illness around other people and at work. The work change has helped and I've joined the YMCA where I've been able to do low impact exercise and swimming to try to keep healthy without triggering flares. So far, so good.

The thing I really feel the need to work on is getting back to my social life. I've been sequestering myself since my diagnosis and I miss seeing my people. It's difficult to plan for outings or make dates when I'm not sure how I'm going to feel, or if others might share an illness without meaning to, but I think things have settled down a bit and I need to make an effort to connect with my friends and family more. So that's my goal for now. Keep healthy and see my people.