In this economy having a job is a blessing. No matter what type of job it is we have to thank the Lord that we have some type of income coming in. With that being said, why do are we so grateful, but yet so miserable at the same time? I’ve heard so many people say “I can’t stand this place anymore, but I shouldn’t complain because at least I got something”. There are some places that make it unbearable to even step foot in the building. Every time you do you get a sour look on your face and anyone that thinks of asking you a stupid ass question automatically moves to #1 on your shit list. Everyone says you should make a career out of what you love to do, but what happens when your dead end JOB drains the passion out of you?
As you guys can see writing is my passion. I’ve been writing since I was 12 years old. It’s something I want to do. Growing up I wanted to be an author and write novels about relationships and sexy shit. As I got older it seemed that doing what I really wanted to do seemed far fetched, but I still had the passion. Although writing was something that fueled me I had to be realistic and I realized my passion will have to wait, because I needed to eat. I had jobs but never really fixated on a big career in corporate America. The more jobs I had the less I wrote. There were some places that just drained the life out of me. One time I literally cried when I got to work because I knew I didn’t want to be there. I felt stuck in my reality. I felt like I would never get the career I wanted because the job I had was leaving me so unfulfilled. I would see people give up their 9-5 to pursue what they wanted to do, but because I was afraid I didn’t do it for fear of  failure. I felt that staying where I didn’t want to stay was safer than going where I wanted to go. That didn’t sound like much logic to some, but I was afraid of the unknown. I was too afraid to fail.
Now, the way I wrote that last paragraph it would seem like I took the bull by the horns and did what I ultimately wanted to do. *Sigh* I get up at 5am to go into a company and punch some numbers that I don’t really give a f*ck about. Deal with co-workers that piss me off, and drive a damn commute that makes me wanna randomly shoot motherf*ckers in their cars. I feel like a slave to my job. I always felt doing what makes you happy should be something everyone should strive for, but when it comes to this I feel like my hands are tied. I can’t sit here and tell you guys to go after shit, when I’m not doing it myself. Maybe one day I will get where I wanna go. As of right now I’m a slave to a dead end job.
Oh, but thank God I have one.
Ophelia
Comment made on March 30, 2010 @ 12:16 pm
OMG, this sounds exactly like me. I am sick at work everyday, I feel my heart pounding everytime I walk in the building. I feel the pressure going to my head everytime they ask “how far have you gotten” “or did you get this report done”. I feel like I have no goals in this place, I come here and push paper everyday, there is no end. I was thinking about writing to ask you, if it ethical for you to leave a job when they just bough you out of your agency. I don’t think I have ever been more unhappy. We are so trained to think that once we become adults we have to forget about happiness and focus on stability and responsibility. I just wanna run around this place and scream at everyone to get a F**king life! BUT, I gotta eat.
Maridor
Comment made on March 30, 2010 @ 12:28 pm
I can so relate. My job useto be a great place to work. But having a bad boss changed all that. I am not allowed to get involved in anything, meetings, decisions, sometimes not even the work I am supposed to be doing! I feel so limited and unmotivated. I was on the fast track in this place and now I feel like I am in a dead end job. I’ve brought the issue to my manager a few times and her boss but I don’t want to seem like the girl who is always complaining. Nothing has changed since I’ve brought these issues to light and my boss has stated explicitly “hey this is the way I manage”. This must be my que, but I feel like I should fight for change. This place useto be a good place to work! Now this chick has changed all that for our department and me. Should I fight and standup for myself or am I fighting a losing battle and should just move on???
V.I.
Comment made on March 30, 2010 @ 10:25 pm
Ophelia,
Girl *sigh* I think we all feel the same way when it comes to our jobs. We want to get out but don’t know how. As far as if leaving your job is unethical when they just bought you out, on one hand it kind of is. They kept you for a reason because they saw something in you, but if you feel deep down that you can’t take it anymore I think you should do what is best for you. Right now we all gotta eat, but I think when we get to that breaking point, we will just say f*ck it…there is only so much one person can take.
V.I.
Comment made on March 30, 2010 @ 10:28 pm
Maridor,
The unfortunate thing when it comes to bosses, they don’t want someone under them to point out their shortcomings. This is something that I say all the times when it comes to relationships…you can’t change anyone unless they wanna change themselves. If she’s pushing your words to the side and telling you she’s running thangs the way she wants to…I think you’re fighting a losing battle. The only way I think things will be better if she changes, you quit, or her ass gets fired. Other than that, if she continues to work there that bitch won’t change a damn thing. In turn she will make your life a living hell.
sunshyne84
Comment made on March 30, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
*sigh* sounds all too familiar
I hate ppl like that that are all “this is the way I do things”
If u can get a group of people together to say something that may help, cuz its not just u complaining.
But yea I’m ready to move along….
Maridor
Comment made on March 31, 2010 @ 12:27 pm
Thanks VI. I think your right. Good thing I just polished up my res`. Let the hunt begin!
PA
Comment made on April 1, 2010 @ 12:44 am
Well, I definitely feel the article you wrote VI. I cannot tell you how rough it is knowing you are somewhere that is no doubt a blessing but you feel trapped just the same. I got a master’s degree and yet Im not doing anything remotely involved with my degree. Maybe its the economy, maybe Im being cynical, maybe its me or a shade of all three. I work for a office supply company and people ask me all the time for boxes. Usually its because they are moving but lately it has been for people who are being laid off and its their last day in the office. Then, I remember how blessed i am to have the job I have. Its crazy out here. Im just thankful to God either way. I rather be irritated by customers than to be sitting at home watching court shows wondering where my next job opportunity will be at and whether or not the rent is going to get paid next month.
GoodasGal
Comment made on April 1, 2010 @ 1:25 am
*Sorry this is long* I know especially in these economic times and the job market the way it is it’s hard to just jump out and take a risk. My parents have always stressed to me that sometimes you gotta leap. I’m not saying that leaping is right for everyone because we all have different circumstances in life. I had a dead end job and ABSOLUTELY HATED my Boss…she made everyday a living hell. The situation became very stressful between us and to this day if I should ever see her on the street…anyways I quit my job. Ended up unemployed for a few months and eventually got a temporary job. Quitting was a big step for me…hated being unemployed. So during all that dead end temp work I decided to go back to school.
I think that whatever it is you want out of life that truly makes you happy, you shouldn’t give up on it. You may have to work a few dead end jobs but just look at it as a stepping stone to get where you want to be. That dead end job isn’t your last step in life or in your career. It’s just a speed bump. All of that may have sounded cliche/motivational or whatever…but I do believe in doing what makes you happy. I’m in school and while I know everyone wants me to go into Corporate America and make that serious money, I refuse to. Instead i’m planning on going to a foreign country (at least for a few years) and start my career.
Britt
Comment made on April 1, 2010 @ 11:37 am
Lord… I think this post was written just for me. I can stand my job or 3/4 of the people there. I’m a lab technologist, I run the same test everyday, the pay sucks( I work for the state public health lab, the state doesn’t pay). The people here generally get on my last nerves. I’m 25 and basically the youngest person here, so all the women here talk to me like I’m a child. The ones who don’t do that give me dirty and disapproving looks all day and the men are all preverts execpt the gay ones ( I love them). So I spend my days working like a mule , looking line a zombie, and daydreaming about a different kind of live. I know with this economy I’m very grateful to have a job but damn I can take this anymore. I can’t quit I’ve got bills. But I’m too young to be feeling this old, this place just drains the life out me. My mom and some of my friends believe I’m ( and my friends too) going through a quarter life crisis. I’ve throwing around the idea of becoming a makeup artist or just going to grad school. But then reality hits me like b*tch you’ve got bills and you’ve got to ear. So I totally understand being a slave to a your job, because I’m one trying to find the underground railroad to freedom.
DepressedInTX
Comment made on January 29, 2011 @ 12:52 pm
I feel your pain. I loved my job for 3 years. It was part time (20 hrs a week, Mon-Fri 8am-12pm) and I have the best boss ever. I LOVED working part time since it gave me some spending money and something to do but I still had my afternoons off to get stuff done or do what I wanted. My husband decided to leave me though and my boss freaked out that I might quit (he really likes me) since I had no health benefits as a part time employee (didnt need any when I was married since I was under my husbands policy) so he fought to get my job full time and he got his way. I am thanfkul that he cares enough to go out of the way for me but I really hate working 40 hours a wk. When you lump in lunch you are really at work 9 hrs a day so 40 hrs a week is really 45 hrs a week. I had to move when my husband left me and my commute went from 4 miles/6 mins each way to over 23 miles each way. That may not seem bad but with traffic it takes me 45 mins to get to work and 45 mins to get home. I have a 12 yr old that I never get to spend time with now. Working part time I was home when she got home from school. Now she is either home alone or at afterschool care until after 6pm each. Life has never sucked so badly for me. I look at my life and dont know how I managed to end up here. I feel trapped, epsecially since I never finished college. i know people say I could always go back but thats not so easy when you have the commute from hell like I do and a job you are stuck at 45 hrs a week and when you are a single mom. I really cant afford to go back anyway. I am a single mom and I dont make great money but I do have some assets (savings) so I wouldnt qualify for any type of aide for college and I dont feel comfortable draining the little savings I have (I may need it for a rainy day in this job market) to pay for college and degree that would end up being pretty useless in this economy anyway. I dont feel that going back to college is always the answer. Besides I dont want to work in corp America. I miss just being a wife and mom and having a part time job to give me something to do. If I HAVE to work full time I want to be self employed so I can set my own schedule and I dont need a degree for that… I do need financial support to get off the ground though and I just dont have that right now. I hate my life. I have never been so miserable and depressed as I am now.
zip
Comment made on June 1, 2011 @ 2:50 pm
Every job I have is dead end. It is a matter of time before I run.