“Workaholics commit slow suicide by refusing to allow the child inside them to play”. — Dr. Lawrence Susser
Recognizing the intense desire to do a good job, many people still have a challenging time overcoming mid life work addiction.
My Grandfather worked full-time, plus he ran a TV repair business out of his basement. This was back in the day when Televisions were heavy and huge. He had to travel to people’s homes. This traveling and the work required to repair TV’s in the basement, plus the travel to return the TV, must have made his work commitment enormous.
My Dad worked 5 1/2 days every single week at the Paper Mill. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he taught 30-minute drum lessons in our living room – from 4pm until 8pm. On Friday and Saturday nights, he played drums in a band – weddings, anniversaries, clubs, etc.
Now it’s my turn. Working at a Fortune 100 Company, there is no shortage of work to be done. And I’ve done it willingly for several decades. Now, I’m also working on my retirement business – to help raise enough money to find a cure for our son’s Crohn’s disease.
The difference, I perceive, is that I have found creative ways to be part of our son’s life. But only after I squandered the first four decades of my life.
Regardless of the reason for your change at 40, it still happened…and your son came along. Irrefutable evidence that God’s providence is at work. =)
Amen. The Lord does work in mysterious ways. If you believe in that sort of thing. And I do.