Comments on: Can We Help But Be Defined And Sometimes Hardened By Our Work? http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/can-we-help-but-be-defined-and-sometimes-hardened-by-our-work/ Mike Rowe's PR Campaign for Hard Work Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: dianedo http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/can-we-help-but-be-defined-and-sometimes-hardened-by-our-work/comment-page-1/#comment-32288 dianedo Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:30:22 +0000 http://www.mikeroweworks.com/?p=19311#comment-32288 It is my belief that it is often other people who define us by our work. There are assumptions often made that anyone who does not sit behind a desk or a computer all day does not have a "good job". I come from a family where my father is a doctor, and my two younger siblings are attending law school. I have a college degree in Communications worked as a Human Resources Advisor (a "good job")for a State funded program and sat behind a desk all day. I wanted to rip my eyeballs out on a daily basis! So, much to the dismay of my family I quit my "good job" to pursue a career with animals. I took a severe pay cut, and spend a good portion of my day cleaning up, poop, pee, and sometimes blood (occasionally my own). That was seven years ago and i wouldn't change a thing. In the eyes of my family I am the black sheep. They have defined me by my choice of work and do not approve. I on the other hand am extremely proud of the work I do, yes it physical and tiring and sometimes dangerous but the rewards far outweigh anything else. Has it hardened me, yes and no. It has shaped some of my attitudes towards people and the way they treat animals, I have also had to put up an emotional wall at times to deal with the sorrow that comes with loss. But I believe that it has also made me a stronger, more driven individual. Everyday I go to work I put every single fiber of my being into what I do. I can't say that about my former job. So let other people think that because I wear scrubs and not a suit and heels to work every day that my job is not a good one. The passion and fulfillment I get from my work is what defines me. It is my belief that it is often other people who define us by our work. There are assumptions often made that anyone who does not sit behind a desk or a computer all day does not have a “good job”. I come from a family where my father is a doctor, and my two younger siblings are attending law school. I have a college degree in Communications worked as a Human Resources Advisor (a “good job”)for a State funded program and sat behind a desk all day. I wanted to rip my eyeballs out on a daily basis! So, much to the dismay of my family I quit my “good job” to pursue a career with animals. I took a severe pay cut, and spend a good portion of my day cleaning up, poop, pee, and sometimes blood (occasionally my own). That was seven years ago and i wouldn’t change a thing. In the eyes of my family I am the black sheep. They have defined me by my choice of work and do not approve. I on the other hand am extremely proud of the work I do, yes it physical and tiring and sometimes dangerous but the rewards far outweigh anything else. Has it hardened me, yes and no. It has shaped some of my attitudes towards people and the way they treat animals, I have also had to put up an emotional wall at times to deal with the sorrow that comes with loss. But I believe that it has also made me a stronger, more driven individual. Everyday I go to work I put every single fiber of my being into what I do. I can’t say that about my former job. So let other people think that because I wear scrubs and not a suit and heels to work every day that my job is not a good one. The passion and fulfillment I get from my work is what defines me.

]]> By: Bob Kinford http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/can-we-help-but-be-defined-and-sometimes-hardened-by-our-work/comment-page-1/#comment-19444 Bob Kinford Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:42:38 +0000 http://www.mikeroweworks.com/?p=19311#comment-19444 As a lifelong cowboy (really, I have spent nearly as much time sitting on a horse than a chair) I totally recognize what you are talking about. But there are more ways than one to being hardened or softened. My work has required me to be hardened at times from things such as being attached to a runaway mule by only my foot, or having to walk home after being hit by lightning. At the same time I have softened my attitude towards the animals I work with, I have become hardened towards people who criticize the livestock industry with no idea of what is involved (sort of like your castration experience) I also recognize that all aspects of life have changed for mainstream society. The last surviving brave who helped kick Custer's butt at Little Big Horn died in 1957 when I was three years old. This means we have gone, in less than two lifetimes, from Indians following the Buffalo and mail being delivered via Pony Express to communicating on this format and the government taking pictures of us from outer space...just food for thought! Bob Kinford http://www.naturalcattlehandling.com As a lifelong cowboy (really, I have spent nearly as much time sitting on a horse than a chair) I totally recognize what you are talking about. But there are more ways than one to being hardened or softened.

My work has required me to be hardened at times from things such as being attached to a runaway mule by only my foot, or having to walk home after being hit by lightning.

At the same time I have softened my attitude towards the animals I work with, I have become hardened towards people who criticize the livestock industry with no idea of what is involved (sort of like your castration experience)

I also recognize that all aspects of life have changed for mainstream society. The last surviving brave who helped kick Custer’s butt at Little Big Horn died in 1957 when I was three years old. This means we have gone, in less than two lifetimes, from Indians following the Buffalo and mail being delivered via Pony Express to communicating on this format and the government taking pictures of us from outer space…just food for thought!
Bob Kinford
http://www.naturalcattlehandling.com

]]> By: Stacey http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/05/can-we-help-but-be-defined-and-sometimes-hardened-by-our-work/comment-page-1/#comment-18240 Stacey Thu, 27 May 2010 16:53:00 +0000 http://www.mikeroweworks.com/?p=19311#comment-18240 Substance, humor, a dash of passion, a pinch of intensity, and whole lot of integrity - you mix these ingredients of expression well sir. Substance, humor, a dash of passion, a pinch of intensity, and whole lot of integrity – you mix these ingredients of expression well sir.

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