By: Kenneth Stepp
As a man with the nickname, “Omegaman”. I believe I have finally hit the wall. Today would have been day 50 without a day off. Although my work days are split up, for example, from 2am to 7am, I do my nonprofit work. Then for the next 11 to 13 hours, I dedicate myself to my day jobs, 16 to 18 hours everyday for 7 weeks. I finally crashed. Never thought it was possible that could happen to me. For the last 3 days, I have been running out of “me” early. Last night I was a mess. Time to relax. I’m actually taking a day off.
We all have our hiding places. Mine has always been in my work ethic. For some reason I can excuse abusing myself in the manly art of working myself to death. My dad was like that the whole time I was growing up. He would drive a city bus all night, come home, change clothes, and change out a transmission in a car in the back yard. Many times they couldn’t pay him. He felt sorry for them. Looking back. Most just used him. But he was a work horse for sure. Maybe I do it for the same reason, maybe not. I find myself working so I don’t think of certain things. I believe my dad was just a great dad and did what he had to, to help his friends and family.
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Hiding behind work is a plague in America. I have known some work horses in my day. I wonder what made them that way. It isn’t natural. Training your body to stretch daylight. It hurts at times. I love collapsing into bed at night. Maybe I’m hiding in my work. Have you ever hidden in your work, play, or travel? Maybe a hobby? Everyone has things they don’t want to face. What are we delaying? All great questions. If I began listing the things in my life I am hiding from, my readers would lose interest fast. What about you? Work is mine. Like all things. We need guidelines and boundaries.
** Seven Deadly Sins **
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“Wealth without work”
“Pleasure without conscience”
“Science without humanity”
“Knowledge without character”
“Politics without principle”
“Commerce without morality”
“Worship without sacrifice.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Did that speak to you. I cried while writing it. How far off base I can get. It’s hard for me to read this wise man’s quotes at times. I picture his mother, when he was about 8 years old, opening the door and yelling, “Mahatma, time for dinner”. Weird, right?
All of these things Mr Gandhi mentions resonates with me. Wealth without work is one thing. A ton of work without pay is another he should have thrown in. Maybe 500 years from now I will be quoted. Feelings of grandeur I suppose. I remind myself that 2 days after my death, no one will remember me at all. Maybe as that guy that talked too much.
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all” –Sam Ewing
Sam has a point. But overdoing anything other than showing kindness can be a bad idea. The balance in our lives is wrong. Today, mine is. Yesterday was the first day of my life I bowed to being human. My cape gently folded and put away. R&R has become necessary for my survival. I hope the quiet mountains yield their wisdom to me today. I can be trusted with it. I will put it in my ineloquent manner and send it to the masses. I believe this is the most “me” I have ever written in my column. But, I’m free to write what I like. This was on my heart.
Founder, American Angel Works