Random thoughts: Love my job, even if it hurts

I begin to understand why my job is so different from last year. 

Because I tried to do my best for my work. I actually hate "myself" for delivering snoopy work more than I hate my work. 

Of course, it is not a bed of roses, there are people you rather not work with, lessons that are flops, conflicts with pupils etc.

But, I think we should love our job. Here how I do it:

1) Remind myself it pays for my stable and comfortable life. LOL. 

I have seen the reverse, I just had a close friend who borrowed money from me to attend to some emergencies. That loan is overdued but I have already decide to write it off the moment I agree to lend the money. 

I meet people who told me there are many working as hard or even harder than me but earning half my pay. 

I don't take things for granted. Call me lazy, and that I should aim for FI. I just wanted to keep my passion in work alive.

2) Deliver value in whatever I do.

I want to value add, there are many a times I don't meet others' expectations or I made mistakes. 

I have learn to forgive myself for not doing a wonderful job, but I am now very mindful not to whin and cherry pick my work. Even if something is not related to teaching, I try my best to look at it in terms of pupils' holistic development or angle of organization excellence and do

My best. I no longer want to "go through motion"

Recently, I was asked to sit in the panel for selection of head prefects. I used to find it a waste of time and just read off mostly from the notes provided. But after thinking about it, I decide I could value add by understanding them better and guiding them for this role. I went totally off the script and talk about various issues, asking difficult questions to check their composure. My colleague told me I asked very good questions. It's just that moment of "mindset" that decide if that another "hateful" office experince or a meaningful experince.

3) Don't be calculative over hours worked

As fixed salaried workers, the more hours we worked, the less pay per hour. Screw that thought! If I need to lose some

Sleep so I can prepare a lesson better, so be it. If I have to work over the weekend and during the holiday to organized myself thoughts, so be it. However, I forget myself if I still make mistakes. 

4) Be frank and honest.

Office politics? I am not sure how bad it is, I just be myself and say how I genuinely feel about issues objectively. If I offend someone along the way, too bad. I think second guessing or trying to please my bosses is futile as I have hit my ceiling. 

5) Look at my pupils 

Looking at them just make my day. The cute ones, the love able ones, the "poor ones", even the irritating or ungrateful ones.

They are children and innocent, mostly. Some are quite clueless. Human spirit at its purity, rub off some positive energy. 

The laughters, the energetic "黄老师”. Of course, they are pupils who give u a black face, or worse see you as transparent, but they are the minority. 

It is easier, for me, since I am a bad egg when I am in primary school. 

Do u love your work?