I wish more Americans would fight back against the “work more, live less” philosophy that seems to be entirely too pervasive in American culture. It isn’t healthy, and we shouldn’t be proud that we spend so much time “busy, busy, busy” doing “work, work, work.” This is not something to be proud of, it is something to adjust so that we can have happier, healthier lives.
As a Washingtonian, I struggle every day with the fact that in this city, WHAT you do IS who you are. Many Washingtonians live their jobs 24/7. The first thing people ask at parties is, what do you do? It defines us. It also limits us by boxing us into a type. And, since I do not feel like my job, I am often annoyed at being type-cast this way by so many people.
I defy type so often that I confuse people. This is good and bad. I long ago came to view what we wear as costumes to fit jobs. I dress as is expected of someone in my job during the day. Because I look like a “type” for work, my other interests surprise people. I love that people can’t quite figure me out or that my interests outside work surprise them. But in this city, that also means I’m living outside the box, which has its own set of challenges. Being branded as one who “doesn’t follow the rules” can lead to career setbacks.
Now, lest you think I live some wild life, let me explain how this is defined. I live outside the Washington box by writing fantasy fiction, and by doing wild things like attending the Renaissance Festival regularly and going to things like Faerie Con. These are not Washingtonian things, but they should be.
Washingtonian things are serious literary fiction, sports events, and conferences about policy. All good stuff, but not nearly as much fun for dreamers like me as creating a great adventure involving magic, dragons, and faeries. Those are the things that keep me alive. When I don’t have time for them, I become an unhappy person.
It has been a rough summer — too much time spent at work (when I am there and when I’m at home) and not enough time spent with friends and on the writing I love. I worry sometimes that if I don’t find a way to force my work schedule back to 40 hours a week I will become one of those people who has no life outside of work. Sometimes I worry I’ve already become that person, because to a very large extent I am my job because I spend so much time there that it drains the life out of me that I need to spend on my other interests.. It seems I might have to leave Washington to get away from that trap.
