If you love what you do, what do you do?

[december2020]

Any what makes you love it so much?

I've lost the spark for my job and career. It all feels a bit meh but I'm not entirely sure why. So looking for some uplifting stories.

I am now a care worker in an adult care home for people with Aspergers and autism.

I was a DV advisor for many years, and from there, housing worker for vulnerable homeless people. I genuinely had enough. Endless conveyor belt of need, more and more people flooding in, and my feelings were often that vulnerable people sometimes keep themselves vulnerable by their behaviour. I have now completely jacked that in and probably won't go back. Sick of benefits and track marks, people dying of alcohol use, there not being enough services for them and them not wanting to take up services to help themselves anyway.

NOW I go to work at 8am, go into handover, then two hourly support slots with people I really care about, who say the funniest things. We have a man with profound autism and some LD and supporting him is AMAZING. We can sometimes be injured when he gets anxious and caring for him is something I am having to learn how to do (mostly, don't over egg it, don't give him too much to process) - like others have said, the day flies by, I am not annoyed or irritated by the end of the day, there are no politics within the team and aside from not having had a break all day, I am so happy I jacked in being a support worker and exchanged it for being a care worker. I am bank rather than employed, so I can choose my hours and add extra when needed or take days off when there is a music festival.

In my spare time I am a musician. I have now got life right I think. I could have had a big career, based on where I started in London, but it meant nothing to me. I much prefer working to help other people, not business.

This is a really interesting thread. 🙂

All the jobs I’ve had that I’ve truly loved - the soul work that makes you feel fantastic - have been paid a pittance (charity, arts, writing, caring) and the financial struggle has eventually taken the shine off the work.

My husband and I now have a successful business together, doing something within his area of expertise and far from mine. The work I do is the antithesis of everything I desire to be doing for a career - it’s boring, repetitive administration but within a very regulated industry, so you’ve got to stay on your toes. The upside is that it pays very well and has allowed us to build a comfortable life.

I did struggle for a good while not having things in my daily life that “nourished” me but I’ve accepted that this is what is right for us in this season and learnt to be grateful for the many benefits this work brings, and build in things around my work day that tick that “nourishment” box. This is obviously easier to live with when you both work for yourself and are earning enough, I am not ignorant of that point.

I’m looking forward to being able to work/volunteer in the fields that really interest me in my retirement years.

Hated my job, took a break when my kiddies were small, couldn't face returning, so started up my own freelance practice, now I run my own successful company and LOVE it. Don't want to say what industry as it's outing and I know at least a couple of people on here at least who'd probably recognise me! But for me it wasn't the industry that was a problem, it was that I needed to work for myself.

This sounds amazing 🤩

Dog walker.

I love being with animals and working outside has improved my mental health a million time over.

Junior school office. Love it. The kids are fabulous, no two days are the same, you never know what is going to be thrown at you. Pay is lousy, some parents can be areshoots and micro management can be a bit much but I wouldn't change it. It's a cliche but the kids make it all worth it.

Funeral director. Immense job satisfaction

*arseholes clearly

Substance misuse nurse at local drug and alcohol team love it. Rewarding and my colleagues are awesome.

Solicitor - qualified in my 40s, was super tough working full-time with young children, but DH was really supportive and it has given us real financial security. Can't underestimate that when we've really struggled for years. DH had a really good job, but the industry was fairly unstable and we moved a lot and there were periods of redundancies.

I actually love my job, always learning something new, and helping my clients on their projects gives real job satisfaction. It was worth all the work.

I'm PA to 3 Directors in the travel industry.
I love my job because the people make it so rewarding. My boss(one of the directors) is lovely and me and him have a good relationship building up nicely. He is doing all he can to help me settle in and find my feet(and suggesting things that will make my life easier), we instantly hit it off. I love travel which also helps and I'm learning new things every day.

I've only been in the role a short time but after my old job this feels different.

Foster Carer, adore foster son and love how he came out of himself and now flying.

I'm a literary translator. I love it because almost nothing beats digging deep into a particular problem with language and figuring out a creative solution. Also, I adore working from home with my dog curled up by my feet. Previously, I ran a creative consultancy with lots of travel and very, very long days. Living and working from home just feels so lovely now.

This is a really great thread. If I had a teenage daughter, I'd be showing her this.

I’m a hair stylist. Had been doing a stressful office job but decided to retrain at twenty-eight. Best thing I ever did, love my job! It’s fabulous to transform people and make them feel good about themselves. And I get to chat all day about anything and everything. Love hearing about people’s lives.

I'm a priest.

I love the big festivals and getting the balance between tradition and now. Funerals are really rewarding as I accompany people through a really hard transition. Sunday services are relentless as I have no ordained colleagues but the congregation and the parish are mostly brilliant. The admin and the church politics I could live without and the pay isn't great but all in all it's the best role I've had.

@WhenYouWalkThroughTheGarden I always think this is what I would have done if I hadn’t been a teacher. I love talking to people.

@Badhairday101 Love the (in)appropriate username 😅

TA in a special school. Best job I have ever had. Pay is rubbish so it’s a job you do for the love not the money.

I'm a specialist foster carer for 3 terminally ill children. I have hardly any sleep (they are all ventilated at night). There's a huge amount to do and learn, but it's so amazing to be able to help them live in a home environment instead of a hospital/hospice. I can't think of anything I would rather do. I am so lucky to have so many laughs and smiles with them everyday.
Doing this has really changed our perspective of what is really important in life. The kids have taught us so much.

Support worker for the same reasons! Crap wage but never get the sunday dread or stress, each day is filled with happiness, laughs, fun and fulfilment.