Life on earth is a little complicated right now. It is all work and no play. I'm spinning a lot of plates. I'm feeling a lot of change. What I am actually feeling is the change of the world. The war in Lebanon is on, but the home- front is safe. I'm nearing 30 and well….you fill in the rest. Here are some thoughts from the chronicle of a working girl.
From the outside, people who observe my circumstances might consider me a lucky one. A ‘working lady’ to be politically correct, if you will.
I’m blessed with great parents, close friends and colleagues, a useful talent, a beautiful home in a not so perfect city (but who says everything’s got to be perfect?) and, to top it off, I get to play with this fun newspaper
Human psychology dictates that self talk gets interesting after a point, so I ‘do ’think I will indulge you a little more. Mom once said to me "What are you made of you earthling?! Seems your pen and paper pad go every where with you girl!” and I said! Well! My office is home and home is office, mom! “What baloney”, I thought to myself soon after I had said that to her. But being a struggling writer with bills to pay what choice do I have?
It's certainly not a utopic existence, but at times when my mom, dad and I are sitting on our front porch, the monsoon wind sifting through our door chimes, the curtains flitting like crimson fairies between our front window panes, we'll suddenly be struck by the feeling that we are living in a good time. Sounds poetic, doesn’t it? It doesn’t hurt to use one’s imagination. So here is where the observation begins.
Coming to work each morning, I look at people around me and I notice just one thing repeating itself in cycles…. young, old or middle aged….all workaholics. And women are no exception.
Many of today’s women are addicted to working, rushing and taking care of other’s needs. At least that is my opinion. It’s no wonder she ends up feeling used, frustrated and two feelings at the same time: alone and without any time for herself. So what is the working woman? Women in particular that are workaholics prompt me to write the next few paragraphs and I pay tribute to the working mothers, daughters and single women of the city who single handedly balance jobs and home at the same time. Here is to the working gals of our times!
For starters, in case you didn’t know, here are some warning signs of workaholics:
a) Your home is just another office.
b) You are hard-driving, competitive, and overly committed to your work
c) You take office equipment with you wherever you go, even on vacations.
d) Work makes you happier than anything else in your life.
e) Sleep and playtime seem like a waste.
f) You believe that if you get the chance to do it again, you'll do it right.
g) You get restless on vacation (if you even take them) and sometimes cut them short.
h) You are frequently "problem solving" work situations in your mind, even during your "time off."
I) Friends either don't call anymore, or you can't wait to get off the phone when they do call.
I) People who love you tell you that "you have a lot of energy," are "manic," or are ‘a workhorse’
j) You are tired, irritable, socially isolated, and might even have physical stress symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, shortness of breath, racing heart, muscle tension, or ulcers.
If you can see yourself in most of these characteristics, you most probably are a workaholic.
There are no short cut solutions to being a workaholic though dear reader. Except perhaps ,occasional rest and recreation. And as Sheryl Crow croons in her song “Soak up the Sun’, life is made of small beauties and the grass is greener each day if you just stop and look at it a little longer... Here is to all the women who drown themselves in the 9 to 5 It’s all about ‘soaking up the sun;’ while you can ladies!
To all the working women young and old I request you to give yourselves a little break and sing with me:
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Gonna tell everyone
To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that)
I've got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame
I'm looking up ( I'm gonna soak up the sun)
I'm gonna soak up the sun
Every time I turn around
I'm looking up, you're looking down
Maybe something's wrong with you
That makes you act the way you do
Maybe I am crazy too
It’s a busy life, so let’s all just take relax a little. What say?
