Deciding

Monday, September 23, 2024

This morning, I have struggled to be reflective and creative despite suffering from a head cold. Although my cold seems to be winning, I’m trying to fight having to “call out” from my part-time job today. The store is short-staffed, and I am a die-hard who needs to meet expectations; today, “meeting” means showing up and working.

I’m an old-school type, imbued by my growing-up days when people accepted that they must work and do so dependably. These days, it’s a different story; young people see the world through modern eyes. I’m starting to get it and hesitate to encourage young workers to go to school or, in some other way, prepare for a desirable future. Through their eyes, the future looks different from what’s in my eyes.

I grew up learning that individual initiative springs from believing in oneself. That might have been a more forceful philosophy when people dealt with fewer technological developments and social advancement struggles. Everything happening used to be more local than international, and that’s become flipped.

I could go on, but you’re getting the drift. Today, I have a choice–to choose the acceptable norm of calling out or the personal norm of going to work.

Dear Friends: It’s early, with the jury still out, as my head leans in a tempting direction. Diana