This is a question that has been brought to mind of late.
A good friend of mine has recently been made redundant, and has been caught up in the throws of the recession.
A small transport company, which has been subject to increased fuel charges and companies he provides services to going bust, have all incremented in the demise of a second generation business.
Here is a man of fifty something years old, who has worked all his life, seeking promotion and climbing the financial ladder, who's whole sense of being has evaporated.
A man who managed a multi million pound business, who was responsible for some 30 men, lorries departures, goods in, goods out, logistics everything pertaining to the site he ran.
One could argue a man of standing.
A man who on the outset, had it all.
But having spoken to said friend today, I could not but help to hear the deflated tone in his voice.
This got me thinking once again.
I find it odd that we are prejudged by what we do.
Think about it, when we meet someone new, we make light conversation, and inevitably one of the first topics we cover is "so what do you do?" This is directed at our employment status, its almost as I said before we are prejudged by our occupation, it's a part of us, it adds definition to who we are.
The very nature of our employment gives us a sense of being, and interestingly enough when that's removed we are left with no discernable identity.
Intriguing? The obvious symptoms seem be a lack of self belief, a sense of no value, hesitance to embrace with vigor and passion a role to which we would ordinarily take in our stride.
Are we victims of our own self dowt? In a previous article I explored our current unemployment status, and it appears I am hearing a similar story once again.
A story, that jobs are being applied for by our over 40 ties, and being overturned for the younger person.
This situation seems to perpetuate self dowt and ultimately makes one question the value of experience that we collected over the years.
Exploring this a little further, I seem to recall hearing over the years of people who, for most of their life, have had a very active roll in the industry in which they worked.
People who "lived and breathed the company", who it seems shortly after retirement dropped down dead.
Usually a heart attack, or something of that nature.
Is it because they literally used every ounce of the energy during their working life, and there was just nothing left.
Or is it that displacement of not being a part of the identity of our chosen career.
That we are left with the sense of who am I? What am I now? Where do I fit in? What is my place in society now? Conversely there are people who opt for early retirement and they simply flourish.
They go on cruises around the world, spend as much time as possible on the golf course, you know that kind of thing.
Is the difference, they worked to live, and not lived to work?I guess when all said and done, we make choices, but would it not be more prudent to stop once and a while and take stock of what we have, and where we are going?It's only when life shocks us and destabilizes the continuum that is normality, do we really get the true opportunity to make changes.
After all when our working life comes to an end, wouldn't it be great to be able to have the freedom to do all those things we dreamed of and looked forward to.
To spend time with our grand children and watch them grow up.
To be able to tinker out in the garden shed.
Or restore that old classic we dreamed of and lusted over in our youth.
So a couple of very sobering thoughts.
Its made me think I must say.
I realize I have the power, and if not careful to take stock of where I am, and what I am doing, and where ultimately I am destined, I too could be out of sorts if my employment were to end.
Worse still, at the point where I can finally stop working and retire fall prey to a shorter time than I had previously imagined.