Job v Life!

I have always worked. Since as long as I can remember! I babysat as soon as I was old enough, I had numerous mums on my list that kept me busy throughout the evenings and most weekends! That money funded my (then) CD habit! Before that I would dog walk! 3 or 4 dogs in my neighbourhood, one at a time (as well as my own dog) If there was a way I could earn money to buy things I wanted I'd do it! Except tidy my own room! I hated school. Throughout! From lower school onwards!! In fact hate is too mild a word for how I felt about school! Such an incredible waste of my time I felt. And still do actually! I do cherish the lifelong friends I made there, but that really is it! I tried college after school for about 2 weeks! But then got my first job in an office at 16 as an office junior and never looked back! I loved that job! I remember excitedly telling my mum in a Martins cafe how I would be paid £100 a week! A WEEK! I was so ecstatic! until she informed me some of that would have to go on rent! The rest I donated to New Look in return for bags and bags of clothes! And then no money till payday! I went from office junior to telesales, to hairdresser, back to office work and pub work then nightclub and at one time had a 9-5 office job, a 3 evening pub job, 2 evening nightclub job and a saturday hairdressing job! I have always always worked. And I enjoy working! It wasnt until I was an adult and watched a film that inspired me to go to uni (I will give you a clue on what the film was by the pictures I include!) that I realised I didnt have to have 10 different jobs to get by! I just needed a career! So. 3 years of a Business Degree later thats what I did. I got a career. it meant starting at the bottom in my chosen field, on a salary of 14k when I had been earning way more as a call centre agent in the evening whilst studying and attending uni in the day but I knew it's what I needed to do. And it hasnt been about money (thankfully!) and as nice as money is! And from there I got a more high profile role in a recognised company, then onto a role where they paid for my Masters degree and another two years of studying later I am in the job I'm in now. And I love it! The problem with loving your work is....you cant alway have everything! As much as people try to. I've lost count of the arguments me and my "fiance" (I stil cant get used to that!) have over work when I'm hammering away at 9pm or later and him saying "it's just a job" "you should log off at 5pm" its just not that kind of job! And I can honestly say 98% of the company I work for are the same! We are pretty much on call 24/7 by choice! We love what we do. And I mean that honestly! From my days of bar work and telesales work I know what it's like to clock watch and I can honestly say I never have a chance to do that in this role! Unless it is to see how little time I have! Rather than wishing the day away! I get to travel a lot which is great! But it does mean a limited social life. My job comes with a lot of social aspects which is another perk! But it isnt the social life of catching up with your own friends, or spending time at home. In all honesty some weeks I am away most of the 5 days which means at the weekend I want to be at home and spending time with my man! But then when do friends fit in? They need love too! Sometimes its weeks before I can schedule in a dinner (as they also are busy at weekends some of the time)and even then if something kicks off at work and I'm sent somewhere else, I have to go. I do worry sometimes when I leave the house at 7am and wont be back for days that I will regret this one day. That I spend too much time working. But then I also think of how hard I've worked to get where I am and how lucky I am to enjoy what I do. Not everyone can say that! My partner for exammple sees work for what it is. A means to an end. He counts down till Friday. And dont we all to some degree, but most weeks I dont get the chance to worry about how long Friday is away as it's here before I know it! And I love that about my job! I do make sure I keep in touch with friends daily by calls, texts, emails or good old facebook. And I always take an interest in what is happening in their worlds. But it is a concious effort to do this! And I make sure that I do as it would be so easy to forget and let friendships fall by the wayside! I make sure the time my fiancee and I have together is of quality rather than quantity. And since we got back together I do try to limit my time away from home. It isnt always possible but I do my best. I think as long as you can remember work isnt the be all and end all and to enjoy the downtime as well it's ok? And wont be forever I'm sure. Who can keep up this pace forever??? oh....my boss actually!! ha!x