“Working For A Living” is a great song by Huey Lewis and The News. It’s also what we do to keep a roof over head and food on the table. Geoffrey Owens who was on “The Cosby Show” back in the day has been working for a grocery store chain recently to make ends meet. Someone took a picture of him at work and posted it online to shame him because of where he worked. That was a true shame of the person who felt like they knew what he should be really be doing.
Owens like millions of people around the world do not have glamorous jobs. What we make is judged and what we do for a living is under scrutiny by so many people. It’s sad that people who work in labor, fast food and other jobs are made to feel less-than.
What we do for a living matters. Blue collar folks, field workers, day laborers, construction workers and so on and so on are doing the best they can to keep themselves from homelessness and starvation. Lots of homeless folks are working but cannot afford housing. In many cities people work a lot and can barely afford their rent/mortgage.
Most people like me work paycheck to paycheck and there should be no apologies for that. Our circumstances about our work are personal and speak to our ability to contribute to society.
No one should face ridicule for what they do. I bring up the noble janitor who cleans offices and they know where all the garbage comes from and where it goes. Lots of secrets can be found there. They clean in the shadows and can overhear stuff that impacts lots of people.
Everyone struggles including those wearing white collars. We are all trying to make it in this cruel world by laboring each day for a good cause…ourselves.
The Tony Burgess Blog 