Cup of Inspiration

Today, September 6, this is the quote in my Franklin planner:

• “There is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” – Booker T. Washington

It is important for us to respect the various roles people fill in our society, not just those with large bank accounts who report to a large office each day for work.

There are some people who are currently in careers they have dreamed of doing since they were children. There are quite a few of us who have followed other paths. Perhaps we found a new interest to pursue. Perhaps we discovered we didn’t quite have what it takes. For example, a child may dream of being a doctor until they discover they can’t handle the sight of blood.

Dreams do change, as do circumstances. There are those who have pursued a different path to support a family, even if it wasn’t a dream job. The pursuit of supporting loved ones is stronger than the desire to hold a particular position, and this is admirable.

What isn’t admirable is to look down on others holding certain jobs. The sanitation worker doesn’t have a glorified position, but is fulfilling a role very much needed, and providing for their family in the process. The delivery driver may not be reporting to work in a corner office but is providing a service to society while putting food on the table for their loved ones. Ironically, some of these jobs are the very ones that fascinate children. They are awed by the uniform and use of specialized equipment. They aren’t conditioned yet to look at the size of the paycheck or whether a job requires a college degree to determine if a job is worth pursuing.

As time goes on, we look for job opportunities that meet our needs and desires. It is important to remember that everyone’s needs and desires are different. It is also important to respect each other’s role in society. The poet does offer words that can bring us pleasure, but that does not mean the poet is more important than the farmer which brings us food. While the farmer’s role means manual labor, they should be respected for helping sustain society through providing food. The janitor in the office shouldn’t be looked down upon because they are maintaining a safe, clean work environment for the office workers.

Respect the workers in the various roles that impact your day to day living. Try to remember why you as a child may have once looked upon those very roles with fascination.