Living & Working in Great Places
On the real benefits of a seasonal job, Part II
...so I'm thinking again about other things I love about working seasonal....and I think back to my brief (two DAYS!) stint in college. It wasn't for me. I discovered that I learn best by doing, not by trying to stuff bookloads (though I love to read, how ironic is that!?) of information into my head plus do homework in short periods of time. I don't "roll that way". It was eye-opening for me, and a bit stressful at the time I made the decision to quit school. Society tells us a number of things about "shoulds".... we 'should' go to school, we 'should' climb the career ladder, we 'should' be goal-crazy, we 'should' tie our needs and wants to buying stuff, and so on. Well, folks, over the last few years my personal life's progressive journey has taught me that I don't necessarily fit into those particular 'should' boxes. Goals, education, career are good things! But I'm adjusting my ideas of what a 'career' is to me.... and it doesn't include the Type-A stuff. My idea of goals now are more flexible, less deadline-oriented.... more of a 'bucket list' kind of thing, plus my goals based on my own values. All those '80's movies about greed and yuppies? NOT my thing as far as desirable these days.
Seasonal work is anti Type-A, anti-cubicle.... my coworkers and roommates change each season, where I work changes, new scenery, new friends, new ideas, new causes and people to care about. I don't have a mortgage, I don't have car bills, I don't have health insurance premiums (that's a whole 'nother topic lol), I don't have 'shoulds' coming out my ears anymore. Doing the job according to the rules of the company and my own inner desire to excel within my own abilities is the ONLY should I've got. Everything else is more fluid. Taste, smell, sight, hearing, touch, experience, feel, all have new opportunities opened up as I try to think outside the trapezoid I'm in :D
Simple things matter more in the quick, temporary world of the seasonal worker. The smell of pavement after a short rain (Love it!), the taste of nachos after work, the sight of a beautiful bear and her cubs, the laughter shared with a great roommate over the silliness of life, the gratitude of a guest when you've helped them, the warmth of a sunset.... and so much more. Being closer to people, and farther from cold, impersonal 'shoulds' and 'labels'.
ALL of my very favorite memories have come when I have reached out, when I've avoided judging, when I've gotten involved, when I've just plain SHOWN UP for life.
Turning fear of the unknown into curiosity is a great thing! Working seasonal has helped me to do just that.
Seasonal work is anti Type-A, anti-cubicle.... my coworkers and roommates change each season, where I work changes, new scenery, new friends, new ideas, new causes and people to care about. I don't have a mortgage, I don't have car bills, I don't have health insurance premiums (that's a whole 'nother topic lol), I don't have 'shoulds' coming out my ears anymore. Doing the job according to the rules of the company and my own inner desire to excel within my own abilities is the ONLY should I've got. Everything else is more fluid. Taste, smell, sight, hearing, touch, experience, feel, all have new opportunities opened up as I try to think outside the trapezoid I'm in :D
Simple things matter more in the quick, temporary world of the seasonal worker. The smell of pavement after a short rain (Love it!), the taste of nachos after work, the sight of a beautiful bear and her cubs, the laughter shared with a great roommate over the silliness of life, the gratitude of a guest when you've helped them, the warmth of a sunset.... and so much more. Being closer to people, and farther from cold, impersonal 'shoulds' and 'labels'.
ALL of my very favorite memories have come when I have reached out, when I've avoided judging, when I've gotten involved, when I've just plain SHOWN UP for life.
Turning fear of the unknown into curiosity is a great thing! Working seasonal has helped me to do just that.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Kate on April 8, 2009 at 10:20am -
Great comments, everyone!! I too am wondering why I ever bought most of the stuff I've bought over the years... of course, with money tight, there are some of my good sturdy basics I'm glad to have ;) My spending habits have changed too...
Some of the best people are us seasonals :) To quote Star Trek: Live long and prosper, everyone! I'm thinking this is gonna be an especially great summer :)
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Comment by Carol on April 8, 2009 at 6:07am -
I agree with the downsizing completely, Kimberly. I've been going through all my stuff....question, Is this worth moving? If the answer is no, I donate, sell, or throw away (recycle). And then, the next question arises, Why did I ever buy this stuff in the first place? My spending habits have changed, and even the thrift stores are avoided. I actually need very little to enjoy a full and exciting life.
Good luck Edward on your adventure, a kitchen junkie as well.....give me a stove, and please, let someone else answer the phones!
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Comment by edward taylor on April 8, 2009 at 5:53am - kate, i agree, it is divine, the right time - the right place... 3 yrs ago, while surfing the web, i discovered, coolworks.com. .... after i got out of the army, i was stationed in italy .. i started my education and career as a cook and then chef, i worked very hard and learned alot and became a very "successful" culianarian.. it was my life and i shared it with my girl for ten plus years ,until i could'nt breath anymore, i no longer wanted to be that person anymore, so i did it for a few more yrs,, meanwhile, i found the ga. mountians, had friends there, hunted , fished, and enjoyed the "DAYTRIPPING". but i was" allowed" to drop out and tune in to the life i wanted..8 yrs ago, i left all that to start my life again, but i spent that time not cooking , working for family, becoming the farthest person of whom i was and wanted to be,, i found coolworks 3 yrs ago and was offered positions in wonderful places that i did not go to.. well the right job, at the right time, at the right place has come around for me.. today, i am heading out to my job, that i got through coolworks .com, i will get there in a couple of days, i am so looking forward to this summer ,, and i hope you all enjoy your jobs, summer, and i can't wait to meet some of ya'll seasonal type people
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Comment by Kimberly Barnes on March 29, 2009 at 1:25pm - I love this post! I am so with you Kate! I just had a yard sale last week and sold all my furniture. I'm leaving Rogers Arkansas with only what will fit into my car! If it doesn't fit it doesn't go..it is so liberating to get rid of all that junk!! It's hard to believe that just a few short years ago I was such a pack rat and now I just want to be free. The less you own the less you have to take care of !! It's really amazing!
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Comment by reggie on March 24, 2009 at 12:53pm - dont see why more single people dont do this expically if they dont have any type of bills u can save alot of money if u do it right great way to meet differant type of of people and do things that u normally wouldnt be able to do
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Comment by Jeremy on March 24, 2009 at 10:13am - hip hip hurrah!
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Comment by Kari Quaas on March 19, 2009 at 2:10pm - Well said!
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