Just Say, “I’m Figuring It Out”

One of the things that is common in my job world is going to lunch or coffee with someone further along or not as far along than you in the job journey. I have been ever thankful for all those who have taken me to coffee and lunch, and who gave time to give me advice, and thus I try to do the same. But all this to say, going out to lunch with someone in your job world is pretty MUNDANE, pretty typical.

So I went out for coffee with a student who is going to intern with us this summer. I was a student last year so I'm not "oh-so-wise," but I do have some thoughts on my time since being a student. So, I was willing to share.

Let's just say adjusting to work has been hard for me. It has been the boring definition of MUNDANE. Go to the office. Stare at the computer. Come home. Sit at the kitchen table. Stare at the computer. You get the idea. I often leave thinking, "Isn't there more to life than this?!"

The thing about students in my job world is that they often ask about work-life balance. I don't like this concept because I think there is more nuance to work and life. But it is a  typical question, nonetheless, and is one that I still find myself hovering over. The truth is, I have no idea. My job world is more demanding in lifestyle than I anticipated. I am more stubborn than I thought and I am not willing to give up parts of my life for the sake of my job. But I want to do this job well, even if it is MUNDANE. But if it sucks the life out of me, do I really want to continue? Back and forth. Back and forth.

So she asked about work-life balance. Typical. I didn't know what to tell her. I didn't want to scare her off from the internship because my specific hoverings over the concept are more nuanced than one answer can convey. But I didn't want to puff her up and tell her I have no issues. Because I do. I am too stubborn not to have issues with work and life. So I just said, "I'm figuring it out."

This time period in my job world has made it harder for me to see the LOVE in the MUNDANE. Truthfully, the MUNDANE has felt, well, just like that … MUNDANE. But something I realized in this moment at coffee is that LOVE does not stop existing in the MUNDANE. Even if I cannot see it, even if it is hard to see it. LOVE still moves even when the MUNDANE feels MUNDANE.

Meeting today reminded me of why I went into my job world and what I could do in my job place. Telling the truth, that I am just figuring it out, reminded me of why I fell in LOVE with my job field in the beginning. And I definitely needed that reminder. I definitely needed that typical, MUNDANE work-life balance question and a student to remind that LOVE is still in the MUNDANE.

So, if the MUNDANE is feeling rather MUNDANE to you, maybe ask: who can remind you that LOVE still exists even in the MUNDANE?