From the Editor

September is here and with it comes the end of summer. Our thoughts are turning to football season, and the anticipation of fall and cooler weather. In September, we celebrate Labor Day. This year labor day is Sept. 5. This day celebrates the American labor movement and the contributions and achievements of the American worker. In the United States, Labor Day is the three-day weekend ending the summer season.

Work and people working together to produce goods, provide agriculture for a nation, or provide services is an essential part of life. It is what drives our country. It enables the consumer to buy essential goods and the seller to provide commodities to the general public.

While working and providing for one’s family are good things, a person can easily get caught up in the mindset that you are what you do for a living. When we limit ourselves by identifying what we do as who we are, we are selling ourselves short.

If asked who you are, what would you say … CEO, entrepreneur, artist, engineer? Often, we identify ourselves based on our work, believing our work title is our identity … teacher, lawyer or nurse?

In The Atlantic article “Workism is Making Americans Miserable,” Derek Thompson describes “The Gospel of Work” or what he calls “workism.” Workism “is the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production, but also the centerpiece of one’s identity and life’s purpose; and the belief that any policy to promote human welfare must always encourage more work.”

When you are told, again and again, that you are your work, you start to believe it. The trap in workism is associating your full identity and selfworth with your work, occupation or job. You are not your work. Your work is simply a part of you. But it’s difficult to separate the idea of meaningful work from a meaningful life.

To attain a healthy or well-rounded identity, one must establish balance in their work and personal life. That balance can shift occasionally when you’re launching a new part of your business, when you’re on a tight deadline or when you’re preparing for a wedding or taking your child to check out colleges. Your work should add meaning to your life, but it should not be the “meaning of your life,” even if it’s the dream job you’ve always wanted.

Having a job and a feeling of accomplishment is important. It makes you feel good and it gives you a feeling of self-worth, because you are contributing to society. Going to work at 9, then clocking out at 5 and coming home is putting in a good day’s work. No matter what you do and where you work, whether it is for a fast-food restaurant or as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, you feel accomplished.

However, working to live and living to work are two different things. It is when you allow your work to define who you are that problems can occur. These problems include the following: • Burnout – Because you are always being defined by your job, it is always on your mind. You feel like you are always on the job. • Resentment – You may start resenting your job; and your friends and loved ones might start resenting you and your job. • Relationships – If you are always working, talking about work, and obsessing about it, your relationships with your friends and family can suffer. • Work – Eventually, because of these problems above, even your work can suffer. This is because you resent the work because of all the other problems you have. Soon all your good work may go down the drain.

There is nothing wrong with being proud of what you do and what you have accomplished. However, it is a huge mistake to make that the only thing or the most important thing in your life. Do not limit yourself to your job. There is so much more to you than your 9 to 5 routine.

Now for the big question. Who are you?

Who are you?

Lawrence

Lawrence Chatagnier Editor & General Manager

Acadian Mass

The annual Acadian Mass held at St. Hilary of Poitiers Church in Mathews was celebrated in conjunction with the feast of the Assumption. Father Daniel Duplantis was the principal celebrant of the Mass with Very Rev. Patrick J. (P.J.) Madden as homilist. Priests of the diocese concelebrated the Mass. Catholics from across the diocese gathered for the Mass which celebrates the French heritage of the people of the bayou area.

Photos by Lawrence Chatagnier