The mad pace of the daily grind is getting even more gruesome. Did you ever wonder what it would be like to actually leave your office at the real end of your supposed work schedule? Working 9 to 5 ain't what it used to be. We're coming in earlier and leaving way after the time clocks needs to be punched. It's getting to be a sad state of affairs. We're becoming a country of overworked, underappreciated and sleep-deprived zombies aimlessly getting into our cars or climbing aboard trains and buses.
The theory goes that the more eager and accommodating you become to that ever-present boss in view, the more successful you shall become. Is this true? Is this even realistic? There are more people vying and clawing for your job, waiting for that fateful moment you forget to hand in an assignment on time, or fearfully wait for the explosion of the “lost” email that will have to eventually show up.
Pleasing an employer has taken on a whole new meaning. Picking up their dry cleaning or taking their dog for their weekly grooming is not out of the ordinary. In fact, it's becoming a widely accepted standard to beg to work weekends and volunteer to come in early.
The saddest part is that the Bosses of this new age are fully and happily taking advantage of our poor pathetic mindsets. They tease us with the notion that we might, could, possibly receive a new pitied evaluation. The meager raise that's held up like a dried out old raisin to a starving man.
The real focus should be on what's happened to our way of family life? Do we remember our children's birthday's, school plays, even take a moment to glance at their homework anymore? Do our significant others remember what a real kiss is supposed to feel like? Do we know anymore what our husbands or wives favorite song is? How about what your lover wore to work this morning when all you could do was keep your eyes open long enough to grab that life-breathing cup of coffee?
The real questions we should strive to answer is what's become of our America? The quality of our waking hours. The substantial climb of mediocrity and the incessant obsession with numbers. As we reach higher numbers in sales, has our quality dwindled to new lower lows?
Our priorities are screwed up for sure. Our children will pay the price. Our society will have nothing to look forward to or hopes of anything to inspire us. Fulfillment will be a word lost in the sea of our new vocabulary. Bottom line. Net Profit. Tax Write offs. Laid off workers. Recalls. These will replace, integrity, honesty, pride and workmanship.
New Year's Resolution? Let's take a moment to look at our lives from the outside looking in, perhaps as the well-rested Frenchman or the Jovial Italian Mother would. Is there room for improvement? I believe with all of my heart we will have so much more to gain and so much more to cherish if we would just take a good hard look at what we've become.
