Considering it’s currently too cold to reveal any skin to the outside world, I’ve decided to go back in time to discuss an encounter with a man who’s words continue to have great impact on my life to this very day, rather than venture out to actually meet anyone new (not that anyone is crazy enough to be out there anyhow).
Shortly after I began my first “big girl job” I was riding in the elevator transporting a mountain of magazines from which I would soon conduct a stimulating round of research*. Along for the ride was a Fed Ex delivery man, who’s destination was also the 34th floor. In this particular building, our elevators had a tendency to stop frequently at floors where no passengers were actually present (I’ll spare you the reasoning behind this ridiculous phenomenon and proceed). After about the fourth stop, I grumbled under the weight of the periodicals balanced on my arms, when the Fed Ex man interjected with a few simple words of wisdom.
*Please take note of sarcastic tone – it will likely show up in subsequent posts. Learn to love it.
“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”
After pondering his statement briefly, I replied, “You’re right,” as if he didn’t already know the accuracy of this notion. As it turns out, many people in this society do think before they speak…who knew? These insightful words inhabited my mind for the remainder of the day, making life in cubicle-land, as I like to refer to it, a much more enjoyable place.
I’ve come to not only be enlightened by this very brief encounter, but to adopt the words of the Fed Ex man as an inspirational quote. This is the kind of stuff you read on the back of Starbucks cups; yeah, it’s that deep. It’s a quote that applies to every aspect of life, and on more than one occasion, I myself have lost my mind due to overwhelming boredom or frustration from a discouraging situation. (Yes, even since this advice was spoon-fed to me from someone much wiser).
Upon reflection, I can vividly remember this man. Early 40s, clean cut, perfectly straight bright white teeth, about 5’9” ½ (okay, so I really have no idea, but I bet I’m close). Enthusiasm radiated from his soul. I’ve never seen a delivery man who was so pleased to be doing his job. Then it hit me! That’s where people like me go very wrong.
* * *
People like me being young professionals, fresh out of college with our diplomas hanging on our office wall – check – and thinking that we are God’s gift because we made it though four years of college, making us instantly wise. It’s been said that those of us in this generation believe we deserve everything, that we don’t need to “pay our dues,” because we are better and smarter than the generations that came before us. Truth. And this is just the type of thinking that leads us astray. Besides, who really wants to befriend someone who carries an air of “I’m better than you,” with them. But I digress.
* * *
We tend to see a Fed Ex man, or anyone in the service industry for that matter, and assume they are uneducated and can’t get a better job. Or, if the serviceman looks young enough, we assume this is his side job to assist with room and board while he works to get that oh-so prestigious bachelor’s degree so he can start his real career. Okay, y’all, time to remove head from sphincter and use that educated brain of yours to give our fellow man some credit. By the looks of this man, he was more than happy to be delivering packages to the offices in our building; and rightly so. Think about it. He comes to these offices everyday, is recognized by the office managers immediately, and often called my name, “Hey, Chuck, how are you today?” He has the opportunity to interact with a variety of people day in an day out, constantly meeting new and interesting people. And if he encounters someone who’s not so nice, he does his thing and leaves them behind. Who wouldn’t be happy with that job? Sure, it’s not always glamorous, but look around fellow young professionals. How’s that cube treating you? Or maybe you are lucky enough to have an office, but how often do you see daylight? How many people do you interact with on a daily basis? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
So maybe, the Fed Ex man has got the right idea. Sure, his bachelor’s in finance provided him a decent paying job, but he just wasn’t satisfied being a deskie for 12 hours a day. And he loved the challenge of presenting his thesis on the newest techniques in aerospace engineering before receiving his master’s degree, but he just couldn’t handle the isolation. In the end, Fed Ex man figured it out, and long the way, he learned to enjoy what life has to offer.
“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”
Shortly after I began my first “big girl job” I was riding in the elevator transporting a mountain of magazines from which I would soon conduct a stimulating round of research*. Along for the ride was a Fed Ex delivery man, who’s destination was also the 34th floor. In this particular building, our elevators had a tendency to stop frequently at floors where no passengers were actually present (I’ll spare you the reasoning behind this ridiculous phenomenon and proceed). After about the fourth stop, I grumbled under the weight of the periodicals balanced on my arms, when the Fed Ex man interjected with a few simple words of wisdom.
*Please take note of sarcastic tone – it will likely show up in subsequent posts. Learn to love it.
“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”
After pondering his statement briefly, I replied, “You’re right,” as if he didn’t already know the accuracy of this notion. As it turns out, many people in this society do think before they speak…who knew? These insightful words inhabited my mind for the remainder of the day, making life in cubicle-land, as I like to refer to it, a much more enjoyable place.
I’ve come to not only be enlightened by this very brief encounter, but to adopt the words of the Fed Ex man as an inspirational quote. This is the kind of stuff you read on the back of Starbucks cups; yeah, it’s that deep. It’s a quote that applies to every aspect of life, and on more than one occasion, I myself have lost my mind due to overwhelming boredom or frustration from a discouraging situation. (Yes, even since this advice was spoon-fed to me from someone much wiser).
Upon reflection, I can vividly remember this man. Early 40s, clean cut, perfectly straight bright white teeth, about 5’9” ½ (okay, so I really have no idea, but I bet I’m close). Enthusiasm radiated from his soul. I’ve never seen a delivery man who was so pleased to be doing his job. Then it hit me! That’s where people like me go very wrong.
* * *
People like me being young professionals, fresh out of college with our diplomas hanging on our office wall – check – and thinking that we are God’s gift because we made it though four years of college, making us instantly wise. It’s been said that those of us in this generation believe we deserve everything, that we don’t need to “pay our dues,” because we are better and smarter than the generations that came before us. Truth. And this is just the type of thinking that leads us astray. Besides, who really wants to befriend someone who carries an air of “I’m better than you,” with them. But I digress.
* * *
We tend to see a Fed Ex man, or anyone in the service industry for that matter, and assume they are uneducated and can’t get a better job. Or, if the serviceman looks young enough, we assume this is his side job to assist with room and board while he works to get that oh-so prestigious bachelor’s degree so he can start his real career. Okay, y’all, time to remove head from sphincter and use that educated brain of yours to give our fellow man some credit. By the looks of this man, he was more than happy to be delivering packages to the offices in our building; and rightly so. Think about it. He comes to these offices everyday, is recognized by the office managers immediately, and often called my name, “Hey, Chuck, how are you today?” He has the opportunity to interact with a variety of people day in an day out, constantly meeting new and interesting people. And if he encounters someone who’s not so nice, he does his thing and leaves them behind. Who wouldn’t be happy with that job? Sure, it’s not always glamorous, but look around fellow young professionals. How’s that cube treating you? Or maybe you are lucky enough to have an office, but how often do you see daylight? How many people do you interact with on a daily basis? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
So maybe, the Fed Ex man has got the right idea. Sure, his bachelor’s in finance provided him a decent paying job, but he just wasn’t satisfied being a deskie for 12 hours a day. And he loved the challenge of presenting his thesis on the newest techniques in aerospace engineering before receiving his master’s degree, but he just couldn’t handle the isolation. In the end, Fed Ex man figured it out, and long the way, he learned to enjoy what life has to offer.
“Either enjoy it, or lose your mind.”
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