There are many definitions of success out there, including those related to our careers — but at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you love your job, because you're the one working at it every day. When it comes to America's work culture, it can sometimes feel like the only enjoyment we can get out of work is counting down the minutes until the weekend starts. The daily grind can be exhausting, especially when so many people are under-employed or working full-time but still living in poverty. That said, I think there are people who love their jobs, and beyond that, I think we can learn a lot from them. For people who love their work, what draws them to it? How do people avoid burning out and losing passion for something they once loved? How do you know when the time is right to pursue your dreams?
Redditor 8yrsold has a similar curiosity. In a thread posted to AskReddit, 8yrsold asked, "People who actually love their jobs; what do you do, and what made you decide to go for it?" In less than a day, the post has garnered more than 1,000 comments and over 800 upvotes on the site. While there's a small amount of repeated answers in terms of careers, the responses are actually pretty diverse. Here, I've picked ones that stood out to me as genuine, as well as posts which contained a unique or inspiring perspective. High salary and lots of time off, for example, are going to feel like a plus to pretty much everyone, but for this list, I wanted to dig up some more personal and original explanations.
Here are some life lessons from the people of Reddit who genuinely love their jobs. You can head over to the thread on AskReddit to read even more, too!
1. Sometimes, It Literally Pays to Smile
Flight attendant is one of the jobs that came up a handful of times, and I can see why. If you have a travel bug, a career as a flight attendant definitely fulfills you in a way many desk or office jobs cannot.
2. It Can Also Pay to Stop and Smell the Roses
Jobs that involved people working in nature are pretty popular on the thread as well. It makes sense: science shows spending time in nature makes people feel alive. Who doesn't want to get paid to breathe in fresh air and soak up the sun while surrounded by the beauty of nature?
3. Going Abroad Can Open Up a World of Opportunities
As someone with a degree in English, I know a good deal of people who teach ESL, and while there are definitely some rocky parts to a lot of their experiences (relocating can be a big adjustment, especially if you don't know the local language, for example) I've overall heard really positive things about the experience.
4. There Is No Satisfaction Like Pizza
This one is pretty straight-forward.
5. You Can Make Green by Going Green
Personally, I'm really interested in what I can do to make my life more eco-friendly, and I love thinking that the people who share these products and expertise are legitimately passionate about what they do.
6. In Art, Do What Makes You and Others Happy
An artist with a strategy? This advice should be taken seriously for anyone in art school.
7. Working From Home Is a Major Perk
I do this, and I can attest, it is pretty awesome. Though working from home can be an adjustment for a lot of people (your couch becoming your desk can be weird) there are tons of ways you can successfully work from home without being distracted by Netflix or your fridge.
8. Laughter Is the Best Medicine... and Payment
I'm going to keep my eye on the responses to this thread because, hello, this seems so cool!
9. There is Nothing like Fresh Air
Simple and to the point. I'm not very crafty or steady with my hands, so carpentry is likely not the best path for me; however, I like the way this Redditor thinks.
10. Childhood Dreams Can Come True
Yes, your childhood dreams can come true! You can work for Disney! If you aren't a software engineer, don't fret. There are actually a ton of jobs you can do at Disney, and yes, you can even apply to be your favorite Disney character as your career.
At the end of the day, the job you love is not necessarily going to fit someone else's needs, and that's OK! While sometimes we're in the position to work for the paycheck instead of our passion, it's important we determine our own sets of values and needs when it comes to our work and doing what we love. Some people value more time-off, while others are concerned with long-term benefits packages, and some would prefer a good office environment to a pay bump. Try not to stress too much when people question you about your work, especially if you're a little unconventional in your path. After all, you're the one doing the job, so the satisfaction you should be most worried about is your own.
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