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What I do for a living will make you uncomfortable.

  • Author Author wyverary
  • Create date Create date
  • Blog entry read time Blog entry read time 1 min read
This very brief entry was originally posted on my tumblr page.

There is no question that makes me more uncomfortable, that makes my mind and heart freeze more, than the question, “What Do You Do?” I dread it in every conversation that I have, with people I haven’t seen in a few years, with people that I am meeting for the first time. It’s one of those stock questions that we ask without thinking much about it, because it’s ingrained in us in a society that values not so much hard work as that hard work necessarily produces a social and economic outcome. It may only be a few of us who are fighting those unseen battles, but nonetheless, I’d like for everyone to think twice before habit permits it to escape their lips.

Comments

B
Me too.
If I say I'm not employed, I'm assumed to be looking for work, I'm not.

I'm a stay at home carer for my spouse who works 4 days per week.
That on its own with high functioning Autism is enough for me to deal with these days.

We're not rich, but we're so far behind the eight ball, it doesn't make sense working ourselves to an early grave to get a mortgage we'll never pay off.

While she's at work, I walk our dog twice, feed him, cook, clean, & attend to other household matters.

If I was not at home doing all of this, my spouse would no longer be able to work.

I'm in my mid 40's & apart from my home responsibilities, the reality is that I have multiple other factors that prevent me from returning to employment.

I am well & truly burnt out, & quit work several years ago after ongoing family illness, followed by deaths of close relatives.

I have few friends, & no longer have contact with my family of origin, due to estrangement I instigated, as a result of historical family abuse.
 
Cogitatio
I bet also that few people who ask it really care what you do. I would guess most people ask it because they want you to ask it back. But I'm not good at interpreting such things for obvious reasons (Aspie). I just think it fills a silence. I prefer silence. Just say 'hello' and let's sit and not talk for half and hour. Fine with me.
 

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wyverary
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