What Defines Us?

What is one of the first questions we ask people when we first meet them? Chances are, after formal introductions of how you turned out to be at the same party or in the same queue, the conversation inevitably turns to "And what do you do?" The immediate response is to tell the person what you get paid for. After all, money makes the world go round, so shouldn't our paid employment be what defines us?

I don't think so. People are so much more than their job. I remember feeling really peeved once when telling someone how much my partner enjoys reading science books. The person asked me what he did for a job and when I told her that he was a tradesman, she laughed and said "So why is he interested in science?!" This person had automatically pigeon holed him in a certain way on account of his 9 to 5 occupation.

My job as an admin officer in a Government Department is so far from who I am. My two main interests are photography and creative writing. Up until now, I have been too frightened to call myself either a photographer or a creative writer, but why on earth shouldn't I identify myself as these things? They are the activities that make me happy, that give my life meaning. I may not be a professional at either of them and hey, I may not be overly accomplished in either of them, but they are things I 'do'. Sure, I spend most of my time at my 'day job', and there is a fair chance that I will possibly never make a living out of writing or photography, but why shouldn't I own them as part of my identity?

I admire people who do what they love for a job. I was talking to someone tonight who's face lights up when she talks about the work she does. She's driven by her passion for the subject and has never mentioned (to me) how much money it is going to make her or anything like that, she simply loves her work. Another person I was talking to the other day, hourly paid, no sick leave or annual leave entitlements, who said to me, even if he could have those entitlements, he wouldn't trade his job for anything, because quite simply, he loves his work.

Finding the ultimate dream job that combines passion with a regular pay cheque is hard, but making your passion the focus of your life, rather than an afterthought, is a worthwhile pursuit! I am working on doing this myself right now. I am spending my spare time reading, writing, going out and taking pictures ad being true to who I am and what I do. I have banned myself from checking my work emails at home or thinking about work when I am not there. I am focusing on who I am, not what I do for money.

Next time someone asks you what you do, are you going to tell them who's payroll you are on, or are you going to tell them who you are?