Work

The “correct” way to work, as described in this chapter, is doing something our utmost attention, and with our whole heart, while enjoying it at the same time. It’s not easy to find a job like that in the modern world. The victim mentality is almost etched in most people’s minds.

We are limited by expectations, by qualifications, and by our own self-doubt. Perhaps we can treat the most ordinary actions as “work”, as long as we do it whole-heartedly. Like tying a shoe, walking on the street, or even typing these words here. To be fulfilled with simple tasks is really no different than being fulfilled with more complex or advanced tasks such as may completing a surgery or constructing a landmark building.

There is an excerpt on the side bar of the book from a Chinese proverb, it quotes:

“When the sun rises, I go to work.

When the sun goes down, I take my rest,

I dig the well from which I drink,

I farm the soil which yields my food,

I share creation, Kings can do no more.”

I tried to find the original Chinese version of this proverb, which turns out to be a song, from around 2377 B.C. to 2259 B.C.

《击壤歌》
日出而作，日入而息。
凿井而饮，耕田而食。
帝力于我何有哉！

After reading it I believe the last line of the English translation strays a little from the original meaning. From my understanding of the original text, it means something along the lines of:

“I work when the sun rises and rest when it sets. I can dig a well if I want to drink and eat from the field. This life is very fulfilling, who would wish for the life of a King!” It seems to express that even doing ordinary things can be very fulfilling, so much that the power and privilege of a King is no longer something to be ambitious for. Thi can apply to our current society. We somehow classify some jobs as less desirable and some more, such as a custodian and a doctor, but if one is happy handling a mop and a broom and seeing the school clean and orderly, who is to say that being a doctor would be more fulfilling?