Epiphany

One of my favorite work metaphors has been the Sinking Ship. Often times we get so hung-up on the petty events of our working lives that we sense disaster just ahead, lurking just below the icy ocean surface, unseen by the Captains up in Mahogany Row.

I have oft described my assignments as "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic", or "criticizing the choice of tunes played by the orchestra" as the freezing ocean rushes in through giant gash below the water line.

While this may be poetic and entertaining imagery, it is less accurate than it is therapeutic. Of all the enterprises where I applied this metaphor, none of them was actually seriously damaged by the crisis that I was experiencing at the time.

This point came clear to me today as I was reading the WSJ. There was an article about people who actually loved their long commute to work and back.
These were people who looked at creative ways to spend the time, rather than railing at the unknown forces that stalled traffic, broke-down busses and trains and caused passengers of irregular hygiene habits to sit next to them. These people had managed to alter their attitude toward a heinous experience and turn it into lemonade. They read books, wrote their diaries, listened to tapes, even meditated. What genius!

Thinking about this, it suddenly became clear to me that we create our own Hellholes!

This mental abberation is easy to see in others: we all know people who seem to create bad luck for themselves by their behavior, choices, negative thoughts.

But when we look in the mirror, we see a noble hero, valiantly fighting for truth and justice in a world filled with ego-maniacs and blowhards.

So, let the word go forth. I have resolved to adopt a new attitude toward my next work situation. No longer will I be calling names, alluding to clueless management and corrupt co-workers, while painting myself as a decent, well-meaning perfect employee who has been badly-used.

I am re-born. I shall henceforth endeaver to re-invent myself. In the future I shall try my hardest to be as evil, self-serving and untrustworthy as the rest of you bastards. It feels better already.