Unfit for Work: The startling riseof disabilityinAmerica

Subject: Unfit for Work: The startling rise of disabilityinAmerica

My dear Ann,

Thank you for saying it so succinctly.  We are, all of us, far more than what we do for a living.  We have had the "work ethic" hammered at us our entire lives, and so narrowly defined that we believe that we must hold down a paying job in order to be someone.  In a word, we allow our job to define us.  "I am a doctor", or, "I am a legal secretary".  Once the job title is laid on us, the person has been defined.  We all know what doctors are, and we know how efficient legal secretaries are. 

We can even cash in on someone else's job.  "I was having lunch with my close friend Doctor Jones the other day".  That tells you that I hob knob with pretty important people. 

Just as we blind people are identified by our Universal Blind Stereotype, so are other people identified by their job stereotypes. 

We actually seem to forget that we are each unique, complex human beings. 

Each of us might consider taking some time to think about who we are and then write a list.  We might even share that with folks on this list.  For certain, we will amaze ourselves by all of the pieces that go into making us who we are. 

Once we are free of being defined by what we do for a living, or what we are blocked from doing, we will be able to go forth into the world and bring meaning to our lives. 

On the day my dad retired, he said, "Now I can do all of the things that having to work kept me from doing".  And Dad became far busier than he'd ever been when he slaved away at his job. 

For those of us who desire a job, and all that a job brings, we will find that by becoming active, doing the things that bring meaning to us, at some point we will discover that employment doors open.  For those of us who feel life has passed us by, becoming active, offering our services in whatever places we can, we will discover that life has been waiting for us to come out of hiding. 

Let's rebel against being defined in this one demensional manner. 

We are more than what we do for a living.  Let's put that idea in its place.  We are no longer held prisoner by how others define us.  We shall define ourselves as whole, complex Beings.  We have something to offer the world, and ourselves.  We will hop out of bed each morning and begin the day by saying, "I shall find value and meaning in my life today."  Then go have your cup of coffee. 

 

Carl Jarvis