I really don’t miss all that stuff. Like you I’m a “doer”, and just want to find the most pragmatic solution without all the waffle. Distant colleagues mistook my focus for grumpiness or unapproachability. Closer colleagues knew they could depend on me to get things done and to empathize and assist if they were struggling.
There was no leaving do, after 25 years, because I left in lockdown, but frankly it made no difference. We don’t miss each other. Work just paid the bills.
Work and social life were always two different compartments in my life. It’s easier to fire people, or make them redundant (as happened a few times) if you’ve no emotional bond or social connection.
Early in my career I had a boss who said his priorities, in order, were the “4 F’s”. Family, friends, football and fishing. Work didn’t feature.
I added a fifth “F”, faith. It comes second in my list.
Thanks JR, good points. Interesting about colleagues versus friends. I’ve always wondered how that might play out after retirement. Ali tells me that I have more faith than I let on. I certainly think about it quite a lot. Last Sunday’s post was almost going to be called On ephphatha (I didn’t write it eventually as the Aramaic is very specific to one context). I did indeed play the game yesterday. Yours as ever, GANTOB
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3 responses to “ON DEVELOPMENT DAYS”
I really don’t miss all that stuff. Like you I’m a “doer”, and just want to find the most pragmatic solution without all the waffle.
Distant colleagues mistook my focus for grumpiness or unapproachability. Closer colleagues knew they could depend on me to get things done and to empathize and assist if they were struggling.
There was no leaving do, after 25 years, because I left in lockdown, but frankly it made no difference. We don’t miss each other. Work just paid the bills.
Work and social life were always two different compartments in my life. It’s easier to fire people, or make them redundant (as happened a few times) if you’ve no emotional bond or social connection.
Early in my career I had a boss who said his priorities, in order, were the “4 F’s”. Family, friends, football and fishing. Work didn’t feature.
I added a fifth “F”, faith. It comes second in my list.
Keep playing the game.
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Thanks JR, good points. Interesting about colleagues versus friends. I’ve always wondered how that might play out after retirement. Ali tells me that I have more faith than I let on. I certainly think about it quite a lot. Last Sunday’s post was almost going to be called On ephphatha (I didn’t write it eventually as the Aramaic is very specific to one context). I did indeed play the game yesterday. Yours as ever, GANTOB
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Cripes! I can’t even pronounce “ephphatha” never mind write about it!
I’m a bit McCartney with faith, “when I find myself in times of trouble…” and all that. Though it’s not to Mary that I supplicate.
I’ve also found Harrison’s Buddhist mantra “All things must pass” to be a comfort. Troubles cannot last forever.
Ob la di, ob la dah life goes on…
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