I absolutely LOVE this question! What a great way to get ourselves reflecting and rethinking our why and what we love!! I love my students with all my heart....I love when something goes wrong and I get to problem solve and try to fix it.....I love waking up in the morning and going to work as a music teacher because music is my passion and truly saved my life and I love that I get to share that passion with my students and help them to become their best selves and help to bring hope and change to the world!! There truly are so many things I love about what I do and just starting this list here has rejuvenated me and brought me joy!! Thank you for always making me think and thank you for bringing the joy in everything you do!! :)
I feel rejuvenated just reading this list, Dawn. I can't imagine how the people around you feel. Thank you for bringing the love into all you do. What beautiful music!
I just rediscovered something I love about my work yesterday. I was deep, deep into a very difficult book, taking notes and asking questions, letting this strong thinker inspire my own strong thinking and I remembered—I love this. I knew I loved it in college when I changed my major from something lucrative to English (distinctly not lucrative but full of books and critical thinking). Anyway, I loved it so much I let myself do it all day. 😊
"...and I remembered—I love this." It's wild to me how often I do this. Haha! Life stuff zaps me and I somehow forget what seems like the most obvious things. May you remember more and more, dear friend!!! I hope your heart swells with absolute joy and leads you to wonderful thinking, creating, and sharing. You're a gift!
I'm still looking for ways to make what I love to do something I can actually earn a living from, so this post is pushing me to think harder about what I want to do!
Oh, I get that! Tammy, thank you for sharing this. I feel like this question "what do you love about what you do" would've also been hugely helpful to me while I was working jobs that weren't quite right for me. It would've helped me focus more on the things I was discovering that brought me joy and ways I was being pushed or growing. Maybe, sometimes, the answer is "I love that this job helps me know what I don't want to do" 😂
Since I’ve retired my original love of poetry and stories, whether short or of novel length, whether written by others or myself, has become, along with a spiritual journey, the focus and passion of my life.
I’ve loved reading books ever since I knew how to read. They open other worlds, other minds and hearts to me, broadening my perspective and deepening my empathy.
And, as I’ve gradually become a member of different literary and poetic groups, submitting my work to them, I’ve also been asked to critique and advise beginning writers, specifically poets.
I always try to constructively analyze a piece, telling the author what I enjoy and what I’ve learned from them in both technique and insight before I mention ways in which they can improve their writing.
It’s the idea of spreading positivity and encouragement that motivates me to awaken every morning with a smile on my face.
But if you want three I can suggest Almost Like The Blues by Leonard Cohen, Fires of Nostalgia by Rafik Romdhani of Tunisia and Paul Dunbar’s Sympathy.
Oh thank you so much. I *love* getting choice recommendations from people passionate about the craft. Also, I'm a big fan of Leonard Cohen's music, but have not spent time with his collections of poetry. I need to remedy that.
I love being at the middle school level because I get to watch creativity and innovation happen daily. I get paid to laugh on a daily basis many times with others. I love that in the summer I can shake up my life (working at summer camp) and come back refreshed for another year.
Julie!!! Yes yes yes!! I once thought I wouldn't like working with middle schoolers. HOW WRONG I WAS! It's an incredible time for a young person. They are hilarious and sweet and brilliant and strange. I love that you're there. Like you said - you get paid to laugh. Ha! So well said. I'm sure they can't help but feel your love daily. Thanks for the many ways you show up and shine.
I love that I get to form close relationships with kids. I get to walk with them through hard things and celebrate the good. I get to have 30 second silent dance parties with the LEDs on. I get to see some of them grow and hear reports of them from siblings years later. I get to challenge them and watch as their understanding grows. I get to love them unconditionally and give them a safe place to learn, grow, and take risks.
I heard you tell this story at a Plywood event a few years ago, and it stuck with me then as it does now. My daughter just graduated with her master's degree and has been attending all kinds of networking events. She HATES the "What do you do?" question, so I encouraged her to hit hard with YOUR question first. It's been a game-changer! Thanks!
I’ve been teaching at the SAME school for 28 years. I LOVE laughing with the kids. I LOVE hugs every day, all day. I LOVE watching them grow up-physically, educationally, emotionally. I’m very lucky to touch so many lives-but really, they touch mine EVERY DAY. (We love your Kid President book and videos STILL-THANK YOU!)
CORRY, I'm jealous of all those who get to be in your path today! I wanna be one of your kids! Super inspired by your commitment to care and the ways you choose daily to celebrate young people. Kids catch on to it. They know if a grownup truly enjoys them or not. What you do matters SO much. I love love love knowing now what you love about your work. It makes the world more lovely.
I love working with others around the world, and how our work connects us. I love bringing order to chaos and making other’s jobs easier. I love improving processes and making things efficient. I love working on a team and learning from others and building trust.
Love this, Brad! Encouraging. Currently reading your book, "Becoming Better Grownups", sent from a friend from the US all the way to the Philippines. <3
The things that you love about the work that you do are the very same things I love about my life in general, beyond my remote day job. And I realized, some days, I'm trying to find these same things in my job to help keep me going.
I love walking into a classroom and seeing kids light up because they have connected to something I wrote...there's nothing quite like that; knowing you've done something that meant something to a child <3
Today was a perfect example of what I love about my job. I am an elementary school librarian and today was the first checkout day for the first class of Kindergarteners in our rotation. There's just nothing like a bunch of five-year-olds who are so excited they are wiggling. I love getting great books into kids' hands.
Great question, and a happy one! As a multi disciplinary artist, I love that what I do comes with a lot of exploration, looking, seeing, creating what I’m not yet seeing and sharing it with others…..even if no one ‘gets’ it! As a poet, I love finding words to thread together to express myself from within.
I absolutely LOVE this question! What a great way to get ourselves reflecting and rethinking our why and what we love!! I love my students with all my heart....I love when something goes wrong and I get to problem solve and try to fix it.....I love waking up in the morning and going to work as a music teacher because music is my passion and truly saved my life and I love that I get to share that passion with my students and help them to become their best selves and help to bring hope and change to the world!! There truly are so many things I love about what I do and just starting this list here has rejuvenated me and brought me joy!! Thank you for always making me think and thank you for bringing the joy in everything you do!! :)
I feel rejuvenated just reading this list, Dawn. I can't imagine how the people around you feel. Thank you for bringing the love into all you do. What beautiful music!
Work is love made visible! Mmmm
I just rediscovered something I love about my work yesterday. I was deep, deep into a very difficult book, taking notes and asking questions, letting this strong thinker inspire my own strong thinking and I remembered—I love this. I knew I loved it in college when I changed my major from something lucrative to English (distinctly not lucrative but full of books and critical thinking). Anyway, I loved it so much I let myself do it all day. 😊
"...and I remembered—I love this." It's wild to me how often I do this. Haha! Life stuff zaps me and I somehow forget what seems like the most obvious things. May you remember more and more, dear friend!!! I hope your heart swells with absolute joy and leads you to wonderful thinking, creating, and sharing. You're a gift!
Back atcha. Ditto. Same to you. :)
I'm still looking for ways to make what I love to do something I can actually earn a living from, so this post is pushing me to think harder about what I want to do!
Oh, I get that! Tammy, thank you for sharing this. I feel like this question "what do you love about what you do" would've also been hugely helpful to me while I was working jobs that weren't quite right for me. It would've helped me focus more on the things I was discovering that brought me joy and ways I was being pushed or growing. Maybe, sometimes, the answer is "I love that this job helps me know what I don't want to do" 😂
Since I’ve retired my original love of poetry and stories, whether short or of novel length, whether written by others or myself, has become, along with a spiritual journey, the focus and passion of my life.
I’ve loved reading books ever since I knew how to read. They open other worlds, other minds and hearts to me, broadening my perspective and deepening my empathy.
And, as I’ve gradually become a member of different literary and poetic groups, submitting my work to them, I’ve also been asked to critique and advise beginning writers, specifically poets.
I always try to constructively analyze a piece, telling the author what I enjoy and what I’ve learned from them in both technique and insight before I mention ways in which they can improve their writing.
It’s the idea of spreading positivity and encouragement that motivates me to awaken every morning with a smile on my face.
Thomas, I love this! Would love to know what 3 poems are lighting you up right now?!?
There are so many.
But if you want three I can suggest Almost Like The Blues by Leonard Cohen, Fires of Nostalgia by Rafik Romdhani of Tunisia and Paul Dunbar’s Sympathy.
Oh thank you so much. I *love* getting choice recommendations from people passionate about the craft. Also, I'm a big fan of Leonard Cohen's music, but have not spent time with his collections of poetry. I need to remedy that.
I love being at the middle school level because I get to watch creativity and innovation happen daily. I get paid to laugh on a daily basis many times with others. I love that in the summer I can shake up my life (working at summer camp) and come back refreshed for another year.
Julie!!! Yes yes yes!! I once thought I wouldn't like working with middle schoolers. HOW WRONG I WAS! It's an incredible time for a young person. They are hilarious and sweet and brilliant and strange. I love that you're there. Like you said - you get paid to laugh. Ha! So well said. I'm sure they can't help but feel your love daily. Thanks for the many ways you show up and shine.
I love that I get to form close relationships with kids. I get to walk with them through hard things and celebrate the good. I get to have 30 second silent dance parties with the LEDs on. I get to see some of them grow and hear reports of them from siblings years later. I get to challenge them and watch as their understanding grows. I get to love them unconditionally and give them a safe place to learn, grow, and take risks.
I heard you tell this story at a Plywood event a few years ago, and it stuck with me then as it does now. My daughter just graduated with her master's degree and has been attending all kinds of networking events. She HATES the "What do you do?" question, so I encouraged her to hit hard with YOUR question first. It's been a game-changer! Thanks!
I’ve been teaching at the SAME school for 28 years. I LOVE laughing with the kids. I LOVE hugs every day, all day. I LOVE watching them grow up-physically, educationally, emotionally. I’m very lucky to touch so many lives-but really, they touch mine EVERY DAY. (We love your Kid President book and videos STILL-THANK YOU!)
I love when they come back to reconnect too!!
CORRY, I'm jealous of all those who get to be in your path today! I wanna be one of your kids! Super inspired by your commitment to care and the ways you choose daily to celebrate young people. Kids catch on to it. They know if a grownup truly enjoys them or not. What you do matters SO much. I love love love knowing now what you love about your work. It makes the world more lovely.
You are welcome to come have fun with us anytime! I have Circles All Around Us…whenever you’re in So Cal 💙💙💙
I love working with others around the world, and how our work connects us. I love bringing order to chaos and making other’s jobs easier. I love improving processes and making things efficient. I love working on a team and learning from others and building trust.
Yes! 100% yes!
“When we see someone do what they love, it’s contagious. We can’t help but feel it.”
And so few get to find that love in what they do everyday 🥲
Love this, Brad! Encouraging. Currently reading your book, "Becoming Better Grownups", sent from a friend from the US all the way to the Philippines. <3
The things that you love about the work that you do are the very same things I love about my life in general, beyond my remote day job. And I realized, some days, I'm trying to find these same things in my job to help keep me going.
I love walking into a classroom and seeing kids light up because they have connected to something I wrote...there's nothing quite like that; knowing you've done something that meant something to a child <3
It is a fabulous question, Brad. Thank you.
You’ve captured the magic of the art of conversation.
Today was a perfect example of what I love about my job. I am an elementary school librarian and today was the first checkout day for the first class of Kindergarteners in our rotation. There's just nothing like a bunch of five-year-olds who are so excited they are wiggling. I love getting great books into kids' hands.
Great question, and a happy one! As a multi disciplinary artist, I love that what I do comes with a lot of exploration, looking, seeing, creating what I’m not yet seeing and sharing it with others…..even if no one ‘gets’ it! As a poet, I love finding words to thread together to express myself from within.
I love this! The idea of one's profession being their identity has never sat well with me. This puts a beautiful spin on things.