As I returned to school for my Ph.D. with a fellowship and additional funding through teaching and research grants, it was possible for me to support myself without the usual range of random jobs. I was finally able to work in my field of choice after having worked more or less full time for sixteen years. It seemed hard for me to comprehend after all that time, that I might not have to continue to work in jobs that I usually despised or tolerated at best. Now I profess as a profession. Professing Work Profess v.
Academic work is a dormant life, as is most intellectual labor.
Notwithstanding the physical lethargy, my life as an artist, designer, writer and professor is now rich with meaning and purpose. Even on the most frustrating day, I can remind myself of what life was like before and realize the honor of having meaningful work. During my earlier work life, I had to dig deeper for that sense of meaning and purpose to my actions which are needed to sustain one's life beyond the bare bones of survival. Given these preconditions based upon my experiences, the most meaningful work for me tended to be cyclical in nature, communal and united around a common goal, flexible in how you got the job done, and with tangible results. Work that is cyclical reflects a range of activities for different times of the year, seasons, or even months.