There is a lot of pros to working for a living.

Of course, there is the monetary reward which is certainly not to be taken lightly.

In fact, someone once said, do what you love and the money will follow.

Ive often wondered who said that and, more importantly, why? Did they have the kind of job that money actually followed them? And how much? And was it in direct correlation to how much they loved their job.

Just curious!

Anyway, getting back to working for a living.

It does have great rewards!

For one thing, you know what you are going to do with your day from the moment you wake up.

Its a no-brainer. That is for sure. Get ready and go. Go to work.

For me, going to work involves about a 40-minute commute.

The commute can be a perk. Sometimes its like driving into a wonderland of beauty. In the spring, the trees and fields are brushed with tender shades of green, in the summer the same landscape has ripened and is filled with lush beauty and in the fall, the kaleidoscope of colour turns once again to magnificance. In the winter, the hoar frost and snow can create white magic. Its like eye candy.

But, then there are those days. Those in-between-days when the commute is nothing more than a living nightmare and you have to pry your fingers off the steering wheel when you finally arrive at your destination.

But, on the days when the blue tooth to your mobile phone works well and there is someone to chat with at the other end, and the highway is safe and solid under your wheels, and the countryside is alive with beauty, the commute can be lovely, like a long extended coffee break.

And so away you go and before you know it, you are at work and your day if full of things to do. And, there is also the satisfaction of doing your very best at work and maybe even making a small difference to someone, somewhere.

In his book, The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz says its important to always do your best. When I read the book I was inspired, as I always am when I read any kind of self improvement book. Of course, my inspiration is often short lived, but before long, Im reading another self improvement book only to be inspired all over again.

However, as I read Ruizs advice to always do your best, I felt miserably inadequate because I knew very well I didnt always do my best.

But, I was comforted, somewhat, when Ruiz went on to say that always doing your best changes from moment to moment and will depend if you are healthy or sick or otherwise just feel like crap.

The author says under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse and regret.

And to remember tomorrows another day.

Actually, he didnt really say that, but it is true. At least, Scarlett OHara said it was in the classic movie, Gone with the Wind.

For me, being part of the world of print media, one of the primary perks of the job is the people whom I have the privilege of interacting with.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to cover Culture Days in Rimbey where I met some local authors who have achieved pinnacles of success in their careers.

For me, they were truly inspirational, much better than any self help publication that I have mused over.

It is common knowledge that the written word provides a pathway into worlds unknown and each of these writers contributed, in their own way, to that world.

And I felt lucky just to be there to listen and learn and maybe even absorb some of their knowledge and talent into my own humble attempts at making the written word a viable and interesting vehicle for my readers.

And when I drove home from the Culture Day event, I was rewarded with another perk, a quiet, gentle perk, as the setting sun bathed the trees and fields in a soft and mellow light and the world seemed quite beautiful, indeed.

As it turned out, it was the lull before the storm.

But, for the moment, it was quiet, and it was lovely and it was good!

And then it snowed!

Go here to read the rest:
Family: Observations of a working girl - Red Deer Advocate