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Art Is Everything, Everything Is Art (Or, HEY! Let's Not Ever Judge Anyone's Career!) ♥
in I Want... Life!, I Want... Change!9 Jun 2011 | 18 Comments
There's a teensy bit of social stigma when it comes to certain jobs and industries, isn't there?
I mean, if you were to reveal that you were employed by a retail corporation such as, say, McDonald’s, beyond the age of 18, whoa! Look out Failure Town! Judging by the concerned glances and raised eyebrows from everyone around after your imaginary admission, there’s a brand spanking new resident strutting about, and apparently it’s yooou!
If you were to declare that you were waitressing at your next dinner party, well DAMN. ‘’What are you DOING with your life?!’’ Somebody might ponder. (Or, worse still, pipe up.) ‘’Certainly not succeeding, that’s what!’’
And if you admitted to working in Office Administration? Ack! Can you imagine the possible disinterest that you’d receive? Believing that you’re obviously a boring individual with no creative spark or interesting tales to divulge whatsoever, it’s probable that the career grilling would then promptly be shifted to another conversation candidate, only to leave you feeling totally and utterly BEWILDERED.
Of course, this is a colossal generalisation and certainly doesn’t reflect everyone's perceptions, but gosh, can we briefly discuss the insanity lodged in the mindsets of those that it does?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself, launch into a fresh direction or aspiring to be or do something completely different to what you’re currently doing. (In fact, go for it!)
But there's also nothing wrong with feeling comfortable with whatever the heck you're doing, taking pride in the duties that you’re performing and feeling as though you’re making a valuable contribution to the world. Because you are.
Despite what anyone ever tells you (and for the record, the people that communicate otherwise? They’re muppets!), there’s a level of skill, creativity and purpose embedded in all vocations, and everything is a form of art. There’s an art to pouring the perfect coffee, mastering exceptional customer service, and taming a wild inbox on a Monday morning.
There’s an art to constructing a delectable sandwich, plucking a smile from a hysterical child (ooh, is there ever!) and carefully recording each and every single clerical detail.
Art is everything, and everything is art, and regardless of your role, you’re ingeniously contributing something magnificent to the world each day. (Yes, you are!)
♥
xoxo
Comments (18)
I love this article!!! <3 <3 <3
15 Jun 2011, magenta
Lovely post Corrine! I think exactly the same way. I always say... Freedom is doing what you like, happiness is liking what you do. Taking pleasure and mastering skills in a job or career that may not be as exciting or romantic as you'd imagined is just as valid as finding the "dream" job, that may or may not exist.
Also... judging other people is just silly! Who cares what they choose to do? It's their life, not yours!
Laura xx
15 Jun 2011, Laura, http://oneaprilmorning.net
So true! I've been writing professionally for nearly 15 years but only in the last couple of months have I felt brave enough to start calling myself a writer. Before that it was always 'journalist' or 'editor of this-or-that magazine'. But while I am a journalist, I am also a writer of other things and 'writer' is the most accurate description of what I do. But you'd better believe that when I say I'm a writer, 90 per cent of people get that knowing look in their eye - the one that says, 'Oh sure, you work at Blockbuster by day and scribble angsty poetry at night'.
15 Jun 2011, Laura Greaves, http://www.lauragreaves.com
Corrine, this is such an inspiring post!
It's so wonderfully put together & every word is so true. ♥
13 Jun 2011, Fay, http://rnrgypsy.blogspot.com
Great post and so true, I used to be worried about people judging me because I'm *just* a stay at home mama, but I thought no I'm doing something really special - growing and raising little people is no small feat and definitely an art at times :)
12 Jun 2011,
I popped over to read this post as I drank my morning coffee. Thankfully, I did. I loved this post and think I will be linking back to it sometime soon. There is an art to every job but yes, there IS a huge stigma about what job you have and how exciting it is. I get frustrated that there seems to be a huge amount of job status given to any job in the public eye while so little given to the jobs that (I think!) society actually needs: nurses/teachers and police, to name a few. You have touched a topic close to my heart and I could go on forever but I will force myself to stop here because you said it better than I ever could anyway!
12 Jun 2011, Ink Paper Pen, gillianharrison78@gmail.com
Couldn't agree with you more..the ownership is all up to the person with 'that' job. If they take it with both hands and scream atop a mountain that they make the best maccas fries or keep the day to day running of their office smooth as a baby's backside then that's fine. BUT, as Julie (above) states....there is only one person that matters here...YOU If you love your job, you enjoy what you do and you don't dread going to work each morning - who gives a beep what people say. I'd rather scrape through with just enough dollars everyweek and a smile on my face then HATE my job and what my life has become just so I can get into the VIP section on a Saurday night. See how they handle that comment at the next dinner party :-)
Great article x
11 Jun 2011, FrankieandNicole, www.frankieandnicole.com/blog
Yes!! I love that you wrote this. I've been somewhat embarrassed about my job as an office administrator (with three graduate qualifications I'm pretty sure I'm the most qualified person in the office...) and dreaded being asked about my job.
But lately I've decided to own it. Yes, I work at an office. It's low pressure, the people are nice, and the money is reasonable and is funding a trip to Europe next year!
11 Jun 2011, Bridey, www.lifeofbridey.com
Haha I LOVE this article - girl you are so wise!
I fall under the 'office administration' category. And most people are so disinterested about what I have to say about my job. They nod, and pretend they're listening - I can tell.
I love my job, and work with amazing people. And yes, art can be found in mostly every vocation, I totally agree :)
XXX
10 Jun 2011, thesydneygirl, www.thesydneygirl.com
Loving this! The amount of people who say things like 'shouldn't you be using your DEGREE?' to me, unaware of the reasons why I am 'still' working in a cinema. I then feel obliged to explain, which I shouldn't have to.
Gee wizz, I actually quite like the job. If it wasn't for the money I'd stay there.
10 Jun 2011, Helen, http://oopsaccident.blogspot.com
You're a smart, smart lady as usual! It's all about OWNING it. If you're happy, you're successful.
10 Jun 2011, Kylie, everblossom.net
This is so right!!!
I see it this way: I work to pay for the things in life I love (home, food, time with friends, travels, hobbies...), so we can say I work to live... and I absolutely don't live to work!
This is my mantra lately!!!
10 Jun 2011, Euforilla, http://euforilla.blogspot.com
Totally agree, my last post was along similar lines but you express things so much better than I do!
9 Jun 2011, A ~ positively prettyful, http://positivelyprettyful.blogspot.com/
Caroline - Thanks a bunch, Caroline! :)
Kez - Awww, Kez. THANK-YOU! Honestly, judgemental people and any kind of snarky behaviour about how others live their lives drives me BONKERS. I'm so happy for you and your exciting life developments! And it's so true - you ARE only as bored as you are boring!
9 Jun 2011, x Corrine/Frock & Roll x, www.frockandrollonline.com
I love love love this post - and I love you even more every time you blog :)
You are right - everyone has a story, a talent, a reason for doing what they do for a living. Happiness is more important than anything else. As long as what you do drives you to be the best you can be (or do the best you can do in your situation) that is what matters.
I am "stay at home" right now and I don't even have kids yet (well until November!) - I think I probably get judged a little behind my back for that too, but the truth is as long as my hubby and I are happy with the arrangement I love being able to look after myself mentally and physically and being a housewife is actually quite fun - you're only as bored as you are boring :) I start a new, flexible job in the new financial year and it will be book keeping but it will be so great & I don't care if it sounds boring - I'll be lucky to be newly employed halfway through a pregnancy!
9 Jun 2011, Kez, http://awesomelyunprepared.wordpress.com
It's refreshing to hear someone talk about jobs in such a carefree way. :)
9 Jun 2011, Caroline, http://tealengthtulle.wordpress.com/about/
Julie - Oh Julie, YES! I 110% agree with you, and know *exactly* where you're coming from. I'm often asked why I don't work for a magazine - truth be told, I have (I did for a year!), but it wasn't for me. I'm much more content with my crazy varied working life now! (And thank-you for your sweet comment!)
9 Jun 2011, x Corrine/Frock & Roll x, www.frockandrollonline.com
I couldn't agree more! I'm a freelancer and a friend of mine works at a magazine, we both do web dev and when we talk to one of our friends we feel werid. Like he's looking for a job is super big corporations (that pay quite nicely) but my friend and I don't like the corporate world (pant suits, ties, shirts, heels, dress shoes... no thank you) but we still feel weird because a lot of people's attitudes are "You're an engineer, you should work here or here or here. You're wasting your talents with what you're doing".
The key here is to remember that there is only onw person that matters in the equation and that is YOURSELF. Are you happy with YOUR job? Are you happy with what YOU do everyday?
I think that there is no value in making super big bucks at a job that you don't enjoy... I know I wouldn't.
Awesome article as always sweetie :D.
9 Jun 2011, Julie, http://juliettemaxwell.com
