The reality of work

It’s always fascinated me that my friends and loved ones spend 40 (or more) hours every week in a place that I know nothing about. They have a life full of responsibilities, relationships, good times and bad, that exists in a place where I know so little. Perhaps their work is how they define themselves…or perhaps it’s how they can pay the rent, but it’s a world nonetheless and theirs is not one that I know particularly well.

There are of course a few people whoI hear about what happens with them at work, and they hear about my experiences. Maybe it’s because they started the job when we were talking a lot, maybe it’s work that relates to our conversations: whatever. And for them I do find it important to finish the stories that I’ve started and follow up on what’s going on. But still, it’s not the reality of it all.

Something I’ve often questioned is how much you should or shouldn’t share your work-world with your significant others–how much should be kept separate. Inevitably for me, work becomes a part of conversation and an inescapable part of my day-to-day. But even with those who know me best, my work–which is such a big part of my reality–is still a reality that’s not familiar to them…or at least it doesn’t feel like I’ve done a good job imparting a vicarious lesson and letting them see through my eyes.

I wonder why that is–why no matter what the connection work just seems like a different world? Is it because I’m frequently in a different position than most of my peers? Is it because something that’s real and personal is only personal or even real to those that it affects?

This is all just curious to me as I find that so much of my work reality and that of those around me is such an important part of our lives…and yet so unknown. I wonder whether that’s intentional, societal, or something that ought to be different…