It's a necessity. We all have to work and make a living some way.

 

But it's also true that work can get in the way of relationships and what we really want and need in our lives.

 

And most of us are working harder than ever.

We're doing it to make our employers think of us as indispensable, hoping not to be among the unlucky who get laid off or fired.

Work often takes over our lives...and we let it happen because we have bills to pay.

But there is another issue that has to do with confusion over whether a career, having one and fulfilling ambitions, will give you a satisfying life.

In fact working hard for a career will leave many people lonely and unhappy. Working for some soulless corporation can be especially dissatisfying. Many corporations only pay lip service to the phrase, "Our people are our most important asset."

This is especially true in a time when lay-offs will raise stock prices on Wall Street... and the bonus packages of upper management.

Hooking your wagon to that false promise could have a REALLY sad ending. Just ask a few million workers who have been laid off close to retirement age in the last few years.

And, if you lose a job your ex-coworkers will be disinclined to help you or even speak to you for fear being fired is contagious. You WILL be invisible and ignored.

But your family will be your family as you move on to the next phase of your life. Your spouse's income may tide you over the worst of the hardships of unemployment and the kids might be helping, too, if they are old enough.

Those of us who come from dysfunctional families tend to be more confused by the family thing than others...but not necessarily.

A "Family", your family, can consist of any group of people who give love and emotional support to each other.

Actually having good relationships, whether romantic or familial, requires time and attention, but can be much more rewarding than a career.

We all have to make a living but we need to have a life, too. A career, even a great one can disappear in a moment. A hobby or something you find interesting can be a way to make a living as a self-employed person without giving your whole existence to an unappreciative employer.

It is really important to have a loving and close family and a romantic relationship that can help you withstand the stresses of modern life. It is also important to realize that an employer cares very little for you as a person and an individual. You are, simply, a worker bee whose job is to work hard and give your all to your job. Make the hard decisions that will allow you the freedom to have a better life.