Awhile ago I was talking to one of my bosses at my daytime job. He told me that he had been in the Navy for many years and had only started working with "The Brotherhood" a couple years ago.
He said, "My wife is pretty upset with me because I've been working 70 to 80 hours per week for the last two years. She wants me at home more often."
I could relate to him because I get lectured the same way by my well-wishers about working too many hours. I said, "So why do you work so much?"
He said, "Because I.... I need to.... I have to show...." Then he sighed and said, "It's not easy being loved, Emmett."
He meant that he was trying to show everyone in the trade how amazing and invaluable his knowledge and experience was. He wanted to prove how hard he was willing to work. To prove that he always goes the extra mile. Did I mention we all called him "Spider-Monkey" because he spazzed out on a daily basis over how much work we were getting done?
I tried to give him the same advice that everyone tries to give me, "Sometimes you have to love yourself. The only pat on the back you get will probably be from you."
I think I felt just as bad for myself in that moment as he felt for himself. He only seemed to realize it as he said it. We are a couple of well-meaning but remorseful clods.
I sat down tonight to regale you all with one tale or another but ended up reading a bunch of the old posts that I wrote. I found it highly entertaining so I thought I'd take a moment to pat myself on the back. Cheers to me!
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2 comments:
I think you could probably buy one of those hands at a dollar store and you could set it by your bed, and pat yourself with it every morning.
(Here's hoping your wife reads your blog, great Christmas ideas coming from me...j/k)
Sorry emmett, I didn't mean to make you look like an old woman! I'll try harder next time not too.
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