Do you live to work or work to live?
 

I remember, back when I was young and naive in high school, admiring famous scientists, designers, artists, writers, businesspeople, and imagining how every day they must wake up full of vigor and excitement, ready to face their next challenge. I wanted to be like them... I wanted to enjoy what I did and I wanted to be recognised for it.

Three and a half years later; I'm in my final year of university. I chose my course because I found it easy and interesting at the time and people spoke of many opportunities for people with a degree like this. I'm now cynical towards academia. I'm sick and tired of the beaurocracy, hypocriticism and wasted time. I'm sick of being taught the fine art of passing exams, with very few useful skills actually being passed on.

All I want to do now is be with the ones I love, see the world, and experience life to the fullest... I don't care about achievements or recognition, I don't need that to feel worthwhile. To sum it up... I can see myself working to live for the rest of my life.

My question is this: Do you live to work? Are you obsessed with your career and being sucessful in it? Or are you like me, do you see it as simply being necessary to fund all the fun and worthwhile things in life?

Both, I've been constantly employed since I was 15. My job is challenging and fulfilling. I like the people that I work with. It's a good match for my talents and I'd quit in a heartbeat if I won the lottery.

If I have to work for an income, the job that I have is great. If I'm independantly wealthy, I'm going to find a way to have some fun and help society.

I hate working for other people. Following orders, doing meaningless tasks, bilking others out of their money, all to make my employers rich. I might be better able to tolerate doing evil things if I got rich out of it, but it's truly hellish work to do evil only for the benefit of others. Unfortunately I'm not smart or talented enough to go into work for myself so I will always be working to make other people money.

Fun and worthwhile things? Most of the money I make is diverted to paying debts and trying to maintain the status quo, forget about trips to exotic locations or doing enjoyable things.

Both... Hard work goes into as many things that are extremely important to me, as the things that need to be taken care of in order to survive.

Right now I am on the same page as you - I work to pay the bills, and my main goal is to spend as much time as possible with friends and doing other fulfilling activities. But I have a hunger for what you describe - a career that really taps into my passions. I think it's rare but attainable. Every person has to figure out for themselves what that passion is and find a way to make it their vocation. I think when your passions are consonant with your actions, that's the definition of living a good life.

I like my job. If I were a millionare I would probably still work there, because I enjoy what I do and I like my coworkers. (I'm a database programmer at a small company) And I would eventually get bored of jetting around the world or sitting at home reading/watching tv/playing video games. However I don't have any desire to be my own boss or have my own company or be a household name. So I guess somewhere in between.

I can't say I'm always smiling and happy to start another day of work, but when I compare it to other jobs, I realize I've got it rather easy, so that definitely helps getting me through.
As an individual who just loves relaxing and having my own free time, I'll always be someone who works to live. Even if I like my job, I can't say I love to work.

I certainly fit in the "work to live" category. I like my job but wouldn't hesitate to give it up if I could. The only reason I work is to pay my bills.

Well, I really love flying, but despite that, I will never live to work. However, flying isn't really work for me.. It's kinda like a hobby that I (hopefully will) get paid for.

As Thoreau once said, "There is no more fatal blunderer than he who consumes the greater part of his life getting his living."

At this point in my life, I believe in only working enough to satisfy my basic needs and to fund my various hobbies. I could be perfectly happy as a millionaire with no job :p

I work to live...thus I make sure that each week I'm doing things that I want to. I make sure that each year we travel to exotic countries and locales.

i've survived over 20 reorgs... and finally got laid off a few years back.

I'm not in it for them.. I'm in it for me.

Work to live, even though I find working in my field is what I want to do, even if it doesn't pay enough.

If I won the lottery though, I would quit in a second.

I'm independently wealthy through investments I've made but, there are many jobs I'd like to do. A tour guide in South America sounds interesting for example. I do computer animation now, but it's too much time in a dark room.

I like to travel and have sex with women. So being a Tour guide might be a good fit.

Work to live or live to work? Seems to be the former for most. Easy to getted sucked into meaningless upgrades and mortgage one's life. I just dropped a better paying job in Houston to work in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. No regrets.

I work to live . . . it's not that i don't like my job as a phsyical therapy assistent . . . it's meaningful and fulfilling . . . But i view the money i recieve from my career as purely an enabler . . . it give me the resouces to persue my art work and spending time traveling and with friends and family . . . I think even the person who loves their jobs, would still consider "real life" more important . . .

sweetpea :)

That is awesome and very refreshing to hear someone choosing their quality of life over money . . . good for you! I am glad you are happy with your new job!!

peace,
Sweetpea :)

Definately work to live. Perhaps one day i'll find a way to get paid doing what i love but i cant really see that happening.

People can make money at anything these days . . . even if you loved to take naps . . . you could do a sleep study and get paid :lol:

Why not? What do you love to do??

I don't think any one thing in life should be the focus of it: not work alone, not relationship alone, not even personal pleasure alone. Achieve a balance, which is what I try to do. I occasionally fall off, but I get back on again.

My job is one of passion. I feel like I am honestly helping society (at least doing my best anyway), and it also helps pay the bills. If I won the lottery, I honestly think I'd either stay here or open my own company like this one.

Where the hell can I find one of these?

That's a very good point! I think I was probably looking at it in a far too 'black and white' manner. I do know people on my course who live to work though, they don't seem to ever do anything else and are unable to strike up a conversation about anything not related to their subject. Although I admire their dedication... I know I could never be like them.