Thanks for this piece. As someone who has indeed washed dishes for a living, mostly enjoyed it and certainly took pride in it I really appreciated reading this in all of its complexity.
I met one person who loved their job so much he couldn't believe he was getting paid for doing it. He was a high school drama teacher.
Fascinating to see what these people who wash dishes for a living have to say about this.
Otherwise I know very few people who find their jobs a source of pleasure and meaning.
The one job I had that was meaningful to me was a wellness coordinator for an environmental organization. It was voluntary, so I didn't get paid, but you know how activists are...
I designed and implemented the whole thing, and still firmly believe that wellness and self care are crucial parts of activism.
Fascinating, Bob. Reading between the lines it seems there are a handful of dishwashers who have found a good place to work and their work is valued -- but more who aren't treated well and may want to look into other places and/or lines of work. Not everyone has a choice, but many do and sometimes don't explore other options, for whatever reason. Staying in a job you don't like and/or aren't valued for a long time isn't a good way to spend 1/3 of your life.
What a great opener for your podcast, Bob. All of it so interesting and great to hear your voice highlight the main points. Your closing of how workers voices are usually absent from what we hear about great jobs you love..... As a healthcare writer, the same can be said about the absent voice of patients and insurance plan members when policies are being created. Like dishwashers, I doubt seriously if seniors had been at the ACA table or the Medicare and Medicaid tables that vision, dental, hearing, and long-term care would have been completely left out.
As an aside, a good friend in college (back in the day) was so excited that the pizza joint he worked in as a dishwasher during the summer had bought thick rubber mats for him to stand on.
Hi Bob! This essay is like "Dirty Jobs" (a TV show), but for writing. :) It honors and listens, with open eyes and ears, to those doing non-office labor. Bravo!
Do you think the rise of "finding your passion" stems from us/society trying to justify the incredible costs and time required for higher education? When did the phrase start in the mainstream?
Or is this like the cultural touchpoint of "buying a house is the American dream," to the point that we stopped needing the marketing because we said it to ourselves? (Until the last 10 years, where this notion is getting pushback.)
My guess is universities and student loan shops are aware the Baby Boomer generation is going to transition a trillion or two dollars in generational transfers via estate transactions over this and the next decades?
I say it is marketing! Or am I being too capitalistic, lol.
Thanks for this piece. As someone who has indeed washed dishes for a living, mostly enjoyed it and certainly took pride in it I really appreciated reading this in all of its complexity.
I met one person who loved their job so much he couldn't believe he was getting paid for doing it. He was a high school drama teacher.
Fascinating to see what these people who wash dishes for a living have to say about this.
Otherwise I know very few people who find their jobs a source of pleasure and meaning.
The one job I had that was meaningful to me was a wellness coordinator for an environmental organization. It was voluntary, so I didn't get paid, but you know how activists are...
I designed and implemented the whole thing, and still firmly believe that wellness and self care are crucial parts of activism.
Fascinating, Bob. Reading between the lines it seems there are a handful of dishwashers who have found a good place to work and their work is valued -- but more who aren't treated well and may want to look into other places and/or lines of work. Not everyone has a choice, but many do and sometimes don't explore other options, for whatever reason. Staying in a job you don't like and/or aren't valued for a long time isn't a good way to spend 1/3 of your life.
What a great opener for your podcast, Bob. All of it so interesting and great to hear your voice highlight the main points. Your closing of how workers voices are usually absent from what we hear about great jobs you love..... As a healthcare writer, the same can be said about the absent voice of patients and insurance plan members when policies are being created. Like dishwashers, I doubt seriously if seniors had been at the ACA table or the Medicare and Medicaid tables that vision, dental, hearing, and long-term care would have been completely left out.
As an aside, a good friend in college (back in the day) was so excited that the pizza joint he worked in as a dishwasher during the summer had bought thick rubber mats for him to stand on.
Hi Bob! This essay is like "Dirty Jobs" (a TV show), but for writing. :) It honors and listens, with open eyes and ears, to those doing non-office labor. Bravo!
Do you think the rise of "finding your passion" stems from us/society trying to justify the incredible costs and time required for higher education? When did the phrase start in the mainstream?
Or is this like the cultural touchpoint of "buying a house is the American dream," to the point that we stopped needing the marketing because we said it to ourselves? (Until the last 10 years, where this notion is getting pushback.)
My guess is universities and student loan shops are aware the Baby Boomer generation is going to transition a trillion or two dollars in generational transfers via estate transactions over this and the next decades?
I say it is marketing! Or am I being too capitalistic, lol.