Isn't Work Great? - Conexus Counselling

We spend so much time complaining about our jobs, that we often forget to contemplate how good they are for us.

I was looking forward to the break in routine of work over the holidays just as much as anybody. I was looking forward to relaxing mornings when the alarm clock didn’t go off, and I could drink my tea with a good book in hand.

However, I did work a few days between Christmas and News Year Day and on my way to work I heard an interview that was billed as one of CBC’s favorite interviews of the year. It started off fairly benignly, as this April 2^nd interview

had Marcy Markusa interviewing Kirk, as he and his co-worker were using pressurized hot water to blast out frozen culverts. It was your average spring flood interview with normal people being willing to do extraordinary things to do what it takes to save homes, when the interview took a ninety degree turn:

Kirk: We don’t want anybody’s basements to flood, we’re doing what we can.

Marcy: It’s just terrible for you guys to be out here in this weather.

Kirk : We don’t mind it. We enjoy working in it. It doesn’t bother us at all. And to help out the RM’s and to help out if there is a state of emergency, we’re more than happy to help out.

Marcy (with gentle smugness): That’s what you’re saying but you’re not the guy in the ditch. Are you sometimes?

Kirk: Yeah. And believe it or not, he just won 1.999 million dollars and he came back to work in one week for Unijet –that’s because he loves our company so much.

Marcy (in humourous disbelief): ThIs is a lie, that has to be a lie! (turning to Gennadi, the guy working in the ditch)….You won the lottery for real?

Gennadi: Last week, on Wednesday….

Marcy: How much did you win? Excuse me?

Gennadi: Almost two million dollars.

Marcy: Awww….Really? So you’re telling (slowly, in disbelief) me that you won nearly two million dollars, and you’re standing in a ditch full of water and ice on a snowy day out in rural Manitoba. Why?

Gennadi (in a patient, tolerant, deadpan voice): I’m working.

(Kirk, busting a gut in the background, unable to contain the hilarity of the situation, as Marcy is working hard to wrap her head around this situation)

Marcy: Is it because you don’t know what to do with the money yet, or???

Gennadi: Not really, not really, I just want to work. It’s not in my…I don’t like stay at home

Marcy: You want to stay busy. And you want to stay busy at this? (incredulous) Cuz this is a grueling job!

Gennadi: It’s good company, it’s good guys working. I enjoy this kind of work.

Marcy (turning to Kirk, the boss): What is it about this man that keeps him working in a ditch of water. As a co-worker, were you surprised he didn’t just say, “See you later, I won nearly 2 million dollars?”

Kirk: I phoned him at exactly the same time when I found out he won and he said, “Captain, I be back in one week and come work for you guys again, cuz I like you guys”

Marcy: And that was it?

Kirk: That was it

Marcy: And his response…did it surprise you?

Kirk: Not really, cuz I don’t understand what else he’ll do. He really likes working here.

That is one of my favorite interviews too. It reminded me of the value of working.

Of showing up regularly every day.
Of showing up at a certain time because people are counting on you.
Of leaving the worksite knowing that something was accomplished during the day.
Of having your life ordered predictably around something that matters.
Of the satisfaction of being able to feed your family because as a result of your labor.
Of being able to feel like some days, you made a difference in the world and that it is left a better place.
Of being able to hang out with people that we can banter with, be challenged by, and collaborate with.
Of getting up in the morning with a purpose.

Sure, not every day is like a Hallmark greeting card. There are days, or even seasons in life where the job sucks, the co-workers are nasty, and the boss is out to get us. Yup. There’s all that. And more.

It’s important to find work you love, and that fits. It’s important to work to create a work culture that fosters a good spirit, or find ways of getting yourself into an environment like that.

But mostly, it’s important to work. Thanx, Gennadi, for reminding me, for reminding all of us, of that.