I was blog hopping and I found this blog post from JJME caught my attention. In fact, I’d like to quote her words below:
Perhaps, I have never found the true meaning of happiness. I was brought up to study hard and get a good job. What is a good job. Something that can earn you millions? Something that can survive on? Where do you draw the line? Isn’t happiness part of life too?
I think all of us are the same. Most of us, I think. We are are all brought up to study hard and get a good job… and a ‘good job’ is already pre-defined by our parents. May it be with the government, for the government, some professional job, or some respected job… It’s all part of what our parents want for us.
Yet, happiness is left sidelined. 8 years ago, I agreed with my parents, and I studied hard, went to university, and now have a good job with the government, and yet… now I feel somewhat miserable. I could say I am happy, but I could also claim that I’m not satisfied.
I am not putting the blame on my parents as this is the choice I made. Moving through the safe lane, putting aside what I want for something sure. I admit, the pay is good, the people around me are fantastic, and the environment couldn’t be better. Yet, double standards, the early working hours, the ‘ethics’ I need to endure leave me without any life, and if there was, it would be sucked out of me slowly.
I don’t smoke, I hardly drink… and I don’t frequent pubs. But that doesn’t mean I do not want to have a life. When ever I want to do something, I’d think of its consequence over my profession, and I really hate doing so.
I hate the answering the question about my job. I hate questions which sound similar to “What is your job?”. I’d feel very reluctant to answer it. It’s not that I am not proud to be an educator, but people tend to look at you at a ‘certain’ way when they know you teach teenagers which are under 18. Sometimes, they’d claim that it’s okay for me to behave un-orthodox-ly if compared to those conventional teachers. But the problem would come out when I screw up. These same people would point out “Why did he do that?? Teacher again!! So shameful!!” I guess you get my drift.
No. I’m not disciplined inclined. At least I do not think so. I hold up to moral values, but I do feel that there is a need to be liberal in some areas these days. I feel that when dealing with situations, you must look at the big picture. You must see all angles. For instance, is it wrong for educators to gamble? How about hugging your spouse/couple in public? Going clubbing? Well… for those whom know teachers are humans, it’s okay, but the conventional mind will be straight to say that educators need to adhere to a certain level of moral.
So do I do my job for the money?? I could claim so… but I admit I love educating sharing experiences with my students. Do I do it for the passion of teaching?? Errr, I can’t agree to that because sometimes I don’t like to teach. Even my classes are kind of casual with jokes here and there…. while I continue to stress the need to learn something while playing around… No, its not a passion, but I try to enjoy what I do.. So, do I love my job? The answer is simple, I’d keep it, but I’d like something less ethicaly bonded, like engineering, business or sorts. Ughh.. No.. Not until they shorten the working hours, and keep paper work minimal, and do away with double standards a.k.a office politics.
So, which is more important? money or happiness? I’d like to say happiness, but without money, it’s hard to be happy with so many problems cropping up, esspecially in this materialistic world. Argghh.. I guess it’s a dilemma everyone has to endure.