Easy Jobs

[Peg Herring]

I don't think there are any. Every time I've taken a close look at what a person does, I find there are pitfalls. As a teacher, I used to envy those who taught in private schools, thinking they had all "good" kids and lots of parental support. In a summer workshop with teachers from all of the United States, I learned the problems of private school teachers: the entitlement some parents think paying tuition gives them, the my-dad's-rich-so-you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do attitude of some students, and the administration's fear of offending big donors and "old" families.

When a relative went to work for the county road commission, I learned of the constant stresses among those who maintain our roads: drivers who fail to use caution or even common sense in work zones; people who pull out in front of the trucks, unaware of the longer stopping distance those big monsters need; kids who want to stand in the spray of snow as the plow goes by, ignorant of the danger of stones and other debris.

Television has some great reality series now that demonstrate there are no easy jobs. There are dirty jobs, dangerous jobs, even disgusting jobs. Wait-staff and discount store workers deal with long hours, impatient and rude customers, and not much respect or financial reward. Highly-paid business-people often trade family and free time for the responsibilities of the bottom line. Yeah, they get a lot of money, but I wouldn't want that stress. Even actors, sports figures, and other celebrities have their woes: lack of privacy, stress to do more and remain "on top," and the public's perception that they get "money for nothing."

Which leads to writing. Not an easy job, for sure, but one that is rewarding for me. The stress is self-induced; no one says I have to write another book or market the stuff that's out there. I decide how much work I'll put in, when the day begins and ends, and how many words, promotional letters, or informational phone calls is enough. Do I stress myself? Yes. But then I stop and think about the person who hates her job, the guy whose job may kill him, the folks who don't make enough to pay the bills. I guess, all that considered, I've got a pretty easy job.