This is very true, and much can be said here — our culture of workaholism, taking pride/meaning in work or being a “work martyr,” etc. But more fundamentally, and especially for people who don’t have much choice in such matters (and whose work typically does not look like ‘sitting at a desk looking at spreadsheets’) —…

Work to live instead of live to work

It’s the machine. It’s sucking your blood. And it won’t even say thanks when it’s done with you.

Especialy for people who let themselves work the 80 hour weeks and stay at those companies. I know a few people like that and while they are making more money than me I know I’m the one enjoying my life far more than them with my 40 hour weeks.

When I was a kid, my dad said I was a talented writer, talented enough to become a professional writer, but we had moved from Europe to the States, where the arts aren’t valued. So he said, you can still do it, but you can’t wait; you have to start now.

I said, ah, okay.

He said, no, I mean, now.

I laughed, but he…

I got fired once and it was honestly the best thing that ever happened to me. For a number of reasons, but a big one was that I realized how much of my pride and personal identity I was putting into my job. Once I didn’t have that, I felt like I lost everything. Which was dumb. I still take a lot of pride in my work…

Totally. I think this kind of goes hand in hand with the fear thing. At least for me, a lot of times, waiting for the exact right moment was just a way to distract myself from the fact that I was too terrified to take a leap.

Waiting! I’m always waiting for the exact right moment to pursue my dream job. First I should finish my degree, then I should get settled into my current job’s new office and my change of commute. I really should get in shape first, too. My house is falling apart and I need the money to fix it up—it would be…