This past week has taught me that work isn't the main story of my life - even though it occupies a significant portion of my time.
Relationships, however, is.
The way I interact with my colleagues, bosses, sub-contractors and workers are more important than the work I actually do. I realized that without all the smiles and good mornings and assalamualaikum from those on site, work would be quite a drag. This week, I saw an experienced foreman of one of my sub-contractors leaving just after lunch because of some things that were said earlier in the day. He handed over his work permit via his friend the next day. "Speak good, or be silent" is always a good advice to keep in mind but the pressure on site makes it harder for some to be nice. They say that nice guys don't get things done on site, like how they always say that nice guys finish last. But I hope to prove both statements wrong.
Work supports the main story of my life - family...
I realized that working 6 days a week in pursuit of experience, good salary and hopefully better future prospects should not be the main story of my youth. This pursuit, however, links directly to my main story - family ie. supporting the family, trying to become someone my siblings look up to and making my mum happy. Although at the moment, my mum isn't too happy that I'm working too hard. I explained to her that in construction, there are months where one needs to work extra hard and there are months that are less intense. This month just happened to be an intense month. But I digress. Having a good relationship at home allows one to put aside work stress and life sorrows and just be a child.
And then there's stories of me with my friends...
Encouragement, motivations and words of advice have always been through friends I've gotten to know. However quite frankly, I haven't been good with treasuring and sustaining friendships yet my friends have always been so kind to me. Alhamdulillah. May I improve my relationships with my friends simply because they're part of my becoming someone better.
And then there's the story of the one friend that becomes family...
My friends will get married. My siblings will eventually grow older and get married. My mum would someday say that she'll be happier to see her kids get married. I realized that I too would - so that the stories of family and friends becomes central. But this story seems the hardest to write...
... and I realized that it's probably because for this particular story, it takes two to write.
4 comments:
Agree. Relationships at work is what makes the job satisfying at the end of the day. No point achieving outcomes if at the end of the day, bridges are burnt and ppl are unhappy. Also bec of the fact that work provides the opportunity for interactions btwn. individuals that in other settings wld not have the chance to meet (i.e. the young and old, those of diff races and religions, diff socioeconomic groups etc.) that makes it all the more special (:
Haha. What u wrote reminded me of so many ppl on site! Such is the life of a workaholic.
Haha.. Are you really a workaholic? But it sounds like you are able to balance home life too so probably not a workaholic in the negative-sense la? Lol.
By the way, you write really well. Nice to read cuz I identify a lot with your writings (:
Hahaha. Thank you. Alhamdulillah.
Post a Comment