Thank you Mr. Keillor.
Dear
Mr.
Keillor,I
graduated from college last year. After a few months leeching off my parents and
being lazy, I started my first real job. Most of my day is spent in my cubicle
staring at a computer monitor with intermittent paper shuffling. I've been
listening to your program for as long as I can remember and you always seem to
have some insight, some wise suggestion, for people who are growing up. Any
suggestions for me? A new office drone struggling with boredom and cubicle fever
(its a lot like cabin fever)? Michael
P.Hoover,
ALYou did the right thing and put your
foot in the water and of course it's cold. My advice is: be patient and make a
plan and keep searching for your truest self. Don't become an indentured
servant. That's somebody who hates work and so he spends his money, and borrows
more, in order to alleviate his suffering, thereby becoming a prisoner of the
job. So be frugal, stingy even. Salt as much money away as you can, so that if
some jerk of a boss yanks your chain and insults you, you can walk away without
trepidation. Make a plan that you'll stick it out for a year and that in six
months you'll look at your options. Be an exemplary employee ---- it helps pass
the time and it's a good exercise. Meanwhile, continue your education, except
now with no need to please teachers or write bullshit papers or trim your sails
to match prevailing opinion. There is no better way to find out who you are than
to sit down and write about what's happening to you and what you think. At work
you can be a perfectly polite, helpful, quiet, reliable drone, but don't confuse
that persona with yourself: you are you and don't waste any time finding out
more about you. In the end, your continuing education ---- the valuable part of
your education, since it's what you do on your own ---- and your self-awareness
will be what guide you on to the next phase of your working life. The part
that's quite a lot of fun. .
Posted: Sunday - September 10, 2006 at
at 11:27 AM
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