I meant to write a longer, more thoughtful article, but alas. I've been working and got too sleepy and lazy and worn out to tell you all the reasons I'm sleepy and lazy and worn out. So here's a list of things I hate:
1. Everyday I don't want to go.
No matter what time my shift is, I don't want to leave wherever I am. Whether it's 6:30AM or 3PM, I want to continue to be asleep or watch Netflix or be with friends and family or anything that isn't putting on my uniform and dragging myself onto the subway.
2. I'm sore always.
My feet hurt, my legs hurt, my soul is aching. Not that the work I do is that hard or that physical. I just am weathered by the winds of labor. When can I lie down?
3. Dealing with customers.
I'm not mentioning my actual job or even what kind of sad, menial retail/food service work I do because I don't have to. Customers consistently do the same kinds of difficult things. It boils down to entitlement. Yes, I know I'm here to help you and facilitate your shopping/eating experience, just please also treat me like a person. Okay?
4. Dealing with schedules.
Hey, didn't ask for that Saturday off? You know, three weeks ago? Okay, well I guess I'll just desperately try to find coverage so i can do thing I was always intending to do when I assumed I would get the time off that I need. Anyway, thanks. Sigh.
5. Balancing work and school.
This is a serious one. It takes a lot to be a college student who's also working. You have your classes, your job, your homework, and about 12 minutes to wistfully remember your social life. Few people really want to work during school, especially when it's not in your field or contributing to your growth in the stuff you're interested in.
6. Vanishing money trick.
After a week of working hard and feeling bad, that direct deposit hits. "Ahhh, yes," you might think. Finally you can treat yourself, maybe buy the nice chicken nuggets, get yourself a face mask, see a movie. Actually, you can't. You gotta pay for your expenses, and once that's over...your check is gone and you have to go back to make more money to cover the rest of your expenses. You repeat this process until you literally die.
7. The crushing feeling of being a cog in the capitalist machine.
This mostly applies to people working for a big national/international corporation.Every so often while I'm doing my job, I am filled with the sudden knowledge that my role in this organization is utterly meaningless and I am as replaceable as as the battery in a wristwatch.
Anyway, work is unpleasant and life is hard. But I suppose someday I'll move on to a better job.
