You Complete Me...Sorta

It's estimated that seven out of ten Americans hate their jobs. Maybe you're one of them. Maybe you feel overworked and underappreciated. Maybe your boss doesn't like you or the guy you share a cubicle with orders in Mexican lunches more often than he cracks a window. Maybe you hate the drone lifestyle of a boring 9-5 or maybe you feel like for the chump change you take home at the end of the week you should at least be doing something you like. Well, if you are one of those seven out of ten Americans, maybe you should try getting over yourself.

You see, somewhere along the line, in this self-entitled culture that has become the United States Of AME-ME-MErica, we lost sight of what living life is really about. With the advent of popular media constantly reminding us of the dangers in settling for less, we've grown accustomed to honestly believing we deserve more, faster, better. More money. Faster cars. Better shoes. More time. Faster food. Better sex. More mates, faster fates and better dates with our now downloadable destinies. And perhaps some of us do, at some point in our lives, deserve just that. But to deserve is to earn, and to earn is to work for, and work takes sacrifice, dedication, sweat, tears, blood and above all else, honesty.

In an age where building up our children's self-esteem by encouraging their unyielding pursuit for happiness trumps the acceptance of admitting just how harsh, cruel, vindictive, disappointing and downright REAL reality can be, it's no wonder we have bred a cultural generation of despondent lost souls. One only look to Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs to understand that when the basic need for food, shelter, attention, respect and love is granted, a child is free to move forward on the journey towards self-actualization.

That is, after all, what we're really after, is it not? To be actualized. To find fulfillment and oneness. To be, at day's end, complete.

Well guess what? You may not find that in the workplace. And your guidance counselors and college professors -- all of whom make their money on the promise their advice will pay off one day, that is after they've long been retired, or died -- misled you if that's what you think you're signing up for in the work force.

I know, I know, there are tons of people who are lucky enough to know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives and love doing it on a daily basis. I lived with a few actresses myself. I sincerely applaud, ironically, those daring enough to follow that wayward path, though in my experience, few actually find actualization. Remember that whole food, shelter, and what-not-needs bit. It's hard to feel complete as a soul when your next meal is dependent on the generous tip of the guy barely enjoying his own.

The point is to make peace with your situation. Accept that work is hard, that you may not find your purpose in the performance from day to day, but that the purpose of the job itself is to provide you with the money, and thus means, to attack the rest that life has to offer. How's this for new hierarchy? Go out tonight and eat a good dinner, rent a comfortable apartment, buy some new clothes, pay detailed attention to what you're friends are saying, respect your elders especially when they judge you, and learn to love the fact that when your children are your age, they'll bitch and complain about their jobs too.

Unless they tell you they wanna be in pictures. Best of luck to both of you, then.