The other day I was thinking about all the things I like about my job…

Feeling respected

Feeling like my needs as an employee are attended to

Having a lunch break

Working less than 12 hours

Being paid for my work

Being thanked and recognized when I do a good job

Not fearing Mondays

Not praying that closing time will come so that I can feel happy again

Feeling that my hard work is valued and worth something

Not feeling incompetent even though I’m not

Not dreading talking to my bosses or co-workers

Not feeling like an idiot when I give suggestions because everyone around me is overly competitive and it comes across as rude, judgmental and condescending

Having a human resources department

Not being afraid to to call in sick because I don’t think anyone will believe I’m actually sick (whether I am or not)

Having coworkers who aren’t so terribly self involved that they think everything is about them (including if I were to get fired, say)

Feeling productive and energized to work

Not feeling abused and misused.

Pretty sad list, right? Like shouldn’t this be the basic standard of work? I know so many people have a truly grueling work environment with just enough pay to get by (if that). After landing my current job, it has made it all the more clear that I was in an abusive relationship with my old job and employers. I was mistreated, hurt, made to feel less than my worth- it was all so too familiar. In retrospect, my last job was just as unhealthy to my mind and soul as my last relationship with my abusive exboyfriend.

I guess one perk of the abusive work place is at least I got a check. But it got me thinking about how important it is to be in an environment that feels supportive and safe. Working at my job makes me feel like working hard, hitting all my deadlines and being innovative. The other day, I was even advising a friend to leave her job based on this same thought process.

The 2 years I’ve known her, she has stated that she was miserable in her job and finds reasons to put off a job hunt. I pointed this out to her and we were talking about how we were in happy relationships and how different that feels than past ones and that the same applies to the J-O-B.

It’s amazing how many parts of life require vigilance and self-protection. I’m so grateful to be working and to be in a position to finally feel validated for my contributions no matter how minor they may seem.