I do not dream of labor!

When I saw this prompt, I immediately thought about that quote, where someone says I do not dream of labor.

I have no dream job, I do not dream of labor!

James Baldwin

The older I get the more I feel this in my bones. When I was younger, I wanted to be a meteorologist, a medical examiner, crime scene investigator, or a scientist. I knew I always wanted to do a job that made a difference in peoples lives and/or the environment. I settled on becoming a scientist and I truly do enjoy what I do and I know I make a difference, but the older I get the more I realize it’s more important what I do outside of work.

I think what Baldwin was saying is that life shouldn’t be about work. It’s really what we do outside of work that matters. We should aspire to something beyond our jobs.

I had a division director when I worked for the Environmental Protection Department that said it’s what we do outside of work that makes work more enjoyable.

I don’t think he realize how much that sat on my soul. I really thought about that. The things you say and do have the power to change the trajectory of someone’s life. He essentially was telling us don’t get off of work and go home and be a couch potato find things that you enjoy and love, and it will overflow into work and into other areas of your life.

I’m a hobbies I love writing, reading, paint; I love creating and doing things with my hands. So I’ve made sure to incorporate that into my life. I look forward to doing my Cash Envelope Stuffings, painting, working on my book that will hopefully one day be published.

I write all this to say that I think my dream job is something that allows me to be free, make a difference, and leave work at work!

-Amanda