Why do we have to "Work so Hard" to make a living?

[Honeycombe8]

47. I hear you. Sometimes I feel the same way. But you know...

maybe you chose the wrong king of work. You don't mention any pleasure or benefit you get from your job.

Working hard is a relative thing. Compared to prior generations, we don't work that hard. I come from a long line of farmers. They worked from before dawn til dusk and beyond. It was back breaking work, with no benefits. If you were injured, you had a real problem on your hands. If you had hands left after your injury.

One of my grandmas was a blue collar worker, after being widowed at a young age. She had three boys to raise. She waited tables, was a maid at low income motels, things like that. She didn't drive and couldn't afford a car, anyway, so she had to walk everywhere or bum a ride. There was no public transportation. As hard as my life is sometimes, it's easier than hers was.

Vacation? I can't think of any of my ancestors who ever spoke of ever going on a vacation. I don't go on vacations, either. I take time off and stay home to rest, chill, get healthy, and do home repairs and projects.

Women often work 40 hours or more a week, plus commute time, then have all the regular family and house duties to do after hours AND on holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't respites for many women; those are heavy duty work days.

If you're young enough, maybe you can change jobs to find something you look forward to going to, or doing. If you enjoy it and feel you're appreciated, work can be a source of contentment and self-esteem. I believe it's a great thing to find something to do for a living that you do really well and get paid decently for.