Work

Last updated on: January 22, 2015 at 3:00 am by Terry Drew Karanen

Work 2015-01-18T20:22:38-07:00 Terry Drew Karanen

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Are you just a secretary? Mechanic? Waitress? Just anything? Those are such degrading statements and have, in the past, made my blood boil. For me the two I most often get are, “So you’re just a flight attendant,” often accompanied by its evil cousin, “Oh … so you not a real minister then, are you?”

Though it used to be a major issue for me, such comments no longer faze me. I take those remarks as examples of small, uneducated thinking, usually fueled by fear and judgment. I believe simple, ancient truths, made understandable by the New Thought movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries set the foundation for even more freedom for us in the 21st century as to how we define work and its value.

Too often our career choice, when it doesn’t fit societal norms, can be devalued by even our most well-meaning friends. Not very long ago men had life-long careers, often at the same company. Women stayed home for the most part to care for the home and family. Even after the major entry of females into the male-dominated world of business, society expected women to keep up the house and raise the kids – and looking good while doing it.

We each have to decide what our lives are going to look like. If living your bliss means maintaining multiple careers then you can’t question how it’s going to happen, criticize yourself when unimportant chores (like making the bed) don’t get done every day, or give credence to the person who complains about how you live your life when s/he is not happy with their own life and relationships. I do, however, strongly recommend you are consistent in balancing all areas of your life, meaning stick to juggling tennis balls (no more than three, preferably) as opposed to fire sticks or chain saws.

Most days I love what I’m doing, both in my ministry and with my life in general. It really sucks not to be in that space and try to stay happy – believe me I tried for years. But I’m here to tell you that if you can visualize the life you want you can have it.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

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