Does it feel like work?
This was a question I got asked by an ex work colleague and it has stuck with me over the past few years, to the point that I felt the need to interrogate the question a bit more…. this urge then reaffirmed by a visit from a friend the other day when they asked me “how’s work, do you call it work?”
My initial reaction to both questions was quite a defensive one (internally) I’m not very good at expressing my opinion in the moment, and would have probably offered a bland or short answer at this point.
I don’t believe that either person who asked me the question had any ill intent or meant insult by what they asked, they are both lovely people and it was simply a more inquisitive question, both having known me working a job in the past that I didn’t particularly enjoy. I have learnt this about many things in life, that it’s our choice how we react to a situation and my defensive nature will have arisen because of my beliefs not theirs. I just find it a really intriguing question because, for example, if someone had always wanted to work in a shop, or be an engineer, doctor or bus driver, would we ask the same question to them?
Just because something maybe more often seen as hobby, but you have created an income from it, the question of whether it feels like work is more frequently asked.
So to investigate this defensive feeling a bit further I think it relevant to look back into my childhood and my perception of what work is . Also to look at other peoples viewpoint on this.
I grew up with 2 working parents. My father an Engineer working full time, and my mum working in retail but also running the house and looking after my sister and I- so a pretty stereotypical UK family in the 80’s/90’s where both parents worked. My fathers job suited him, he was an an apprentice straight from school and was an Engineer through to retirement, it suited how his mind worked but I wouldn’t have said that he was passionate about what he did, he was good at it, but my feeling was that he did it because it paid the bills and was a job that could vary and grow.
My mum worked in retail from a very young age, like many of us start out. It is flexible, there is varied and accessible. My mum was excellent at it, she’s a warm people person, but again I know it wasn’t her passion in anyway. She worked in retail because it helped pay the bills and it was flexible to fit around my sister and I, and the multitude of other things she had to do around the home.
So what conclusion do I reach from my childhood view of what work is? That most importantly you work to pay the bills and provide financial stability, you don’t have to enjoy what you do, its function is to facilitate other things not your happiness or passion.
Growing up loving all forms of creativity, meant that this creativity, was in my opinion destined to be a hobby- you didn’t do this kind of thing for a job. In fact, when people found out that I enjoyed painting etc, they would also me if I wished that I could paint as my job. I would usually reply “oh no, I don’t think I would enjoy it if it was my job, I’m happy with it as a hobby” and a hobby of course is absolutely fine for it to be… but not when you tell yourself this because you don’t actually think it’s possible to have it as a job, either because you don’t think that’s a possible career option, or because you don’t think you are “good enough”.
I know some people who are happy to work full time in a different career to maybe other passions, as it enables them to explore their passion in their “free” time…. And if that truly makes them happy then it’s fine.
I also completely understand why people feel more secure being employed, and prioritise security, rather than pursuing something else that feels riskier- I did it myself for 13 years.
Back to the point- is it work? does it feel like work?
Here is the definition of work from the Miriam Webster online dictionary-
a: to perform work or fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary
b: to perform or carry through a task requiring sustained effort or continuous repeated operations
c: to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity
So why my defensiveness and the question in the first place?
When you read the definition of “work”, being an artist as a job absolutely fits.
I think the question jars on me is because for the most part, a common view is that work is something you don’t enjoy, you aren’t meant to enjoy, but you do as a necessity. It feels as though now I enjoy something I do, that I feel robbed of the recognition from others about the effort that goes into the work- I work really hard- not always a good thing- I know it stems from another place- but none the less, I try, and work really hard so I feel that people are being critical or undervaluing the effort involved when I am asked. (Just to reiterate I know they aren’t but its how I feel)
My definition of work I guess is as simple as something I consistently do to provide myself and my family with an income- so yes I do call it work and it does feel like work- if I don’t show up then I don’t get paid… but do you know what - I bloody enjoy it! I love painting , I love thinking, I love analysing paintings and thought processes and I am grateful that I get to do this and get paid to do it. I also have to deal with many other things, sales, marketing, website, finance, planning, materials - I don’t just paint and it sells… some people might, but do you know what, even if something appears effortless, you can guarantee there’s a whole lot of work that preceded this.
I asked this questions to my followers on Instagram - “Does what you do for your income feel like work?”
Out of the people that responded- 82% said that what they do for their income, feels like work… so I continued to ask those people why it does or doesn’t feel like work, to understand how others perceive what "work” means.
Those who answered “yes” to it feeling like work
“Because I don’t like it”
“Because it’s not my passion”
“Because I really don’t want to be in an office 8-5”
“Because it’s not what I’d do through choice, even though I work with a great team”
“Eats into the time you could be doing things you enjoy more”
“I’m an elementary school art teacher. I love my job and find great joy in it but it is exhausting”
Those who answered “No it doesn’t feel like work”
“Because I love it- time flies, it’s fun, there’s hard work- but such pride and value come from it”
“I work with what I love, in an art gallery, surrounded with what makes me happy”
“If you love what you do for money, it doesn’t cont as work”
I think there is a general consensus that if you don’t enjoy your job then it is described as work, or you have to dislike your job to be at liberty to call it work? According to the answers work isn’t something we are meant to enjoy, and so we are robbed of using the word “work”, if our job actually makes us happy.
I guess what I arrive at from this is that we have created an acceptance in society that work ultimately is a negative, tiring, consuming activity that is often removes the feeling of freedom and choice… so the question really isn’t “does it feel like work?” but more of a need to analyse how have we come to a point that to do something enjoyable for “work” is seen as unusual, or something that many people feel is unattainable.
It does feel like work being an Artist, because it’s my source of income and I am committed to it- to call it “work” should not be a positive or negative description…. and I bloody love my work.
With love and thanks
Flo x
If you would like to support me so I can keep doing something I love, please feel free to tap “Buy me a chocolate bar” to find out how- Thank you x