January 27th: All the jobs I don’t have to do

Today I’m really happy about all the jobs I don’t have to do.  And I’m not talking about the small jobs of life like taking out the garbage or shoveling the snow.  I’m talking about BIG, BIG jobs…like being President of……ANYTHING!!!   Obviously as I listened to the State of the Union address tonight I was happy I wasn’t the President of the United States.  Am I the only one who finds it  amazing anybody wants that job or is willing to take on that responsibility?  I’m sure there are perks being the leader of the free world.  I’ll bet Air Force One is pretty terrific, not to mention the fact that the plane won’t leave without you, and security’s a breeze.   I’ll bet not ever having to worry about parking must be nice, but being criticized by everyone, everywhere NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO can’t be fun.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m grateful for those who feel a sense of calling to be in that political arena (and I want whoever takes on that burden to be successful in blessing our lives) but…

No, I don’t want that job.  Don’t want to be THE President.  I’m happy I’m not the President of a company  either (not that anyone’s ever asked me).  I’m really glad people who have those management skills and passions are willing to go to board meetings and read spread sheets and decide who has to be fired to keep the company profitable midst the global economic downturn.  More than ever we need capable, honest, inspiring leaders of business and I’m happy they’re innovating and pioneering new markets.  I’m also happy I don’t have to do their jobs.

Happy I’m not an accountant.  Or chairman of the Federal Reserve.  I could go on, but the point I’m trying to make is this:

I’m happy that of all the jobs that exist, (and unfortunately that number seems to be shrinking daily and who gets yelled at for not waving the right wand and making it all better?  That’s right, the guy with the job I mentioned earlier)  …of all the jobs that are STILL available,  I don’t have to feel bad that I don’t have a different one than I’ve got. .  In fact I believe I’m happier with my modest career path….no, i’ll go further and say I’d be happier ” failing” at what I love to do than I would be succeeding at something I didn’t.

Wait a minute.    Listen to me….I just said  I’d rather fail at something I love doing than succeed at something I hate. Am I a hippie?  I think I first heard that from a guy back in the sixties with really long hair, a tie-dyed  t-shirt (and marginal hygiene)

I’m just  so happy today that I get to do what I do.  AND, that I’m finding more joy in it than I ever have.  When I dropped my friend and fellow musician off at the airport after 3 days of rehearsing and it was early and cold I thought of the sky cap people freezing and hoping for tips  Then I thought of the security folks watching X-ray machines all day and explaining to the travelers like my buddy John that his shampoo and conditioner look suspiciously like potential weapons of mass destruction, It’s at these moments of contemplation that I’m happy, happy, happy that someone else is doing all the jobs I don’t have to do.