“I’ve been doing construction since I was fifteen. I like what I do and I do what I like. Every night when I’m heading home, I always look back to see what I’ve built. It gives me a great sense of joy. A few years ago I built a children’s park not far from here, and when they finally opened the gates, and all the children came running in, I started to cry.”
Viktor E. Frankl, the brilliant and compassionate Austrian psychiatrist who wrote the ever-relevant book, Man's Search for Meaning observed "Life is never made unbearable by circumstances but only by lack of meaning and purpose... Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'." This man is a natural shining example of a "logotherapist" (practitioner of Frankl's theory that human nature is motivated by the search for a life purpose - logotherapy being the pursuit of meaning for one's life). Neither Frankl nor I can say it any better than this man, "I like what I do and I do what I like" as he sets an extraordinary example of regularly checking our work for meaning and purpose in order to be self-sustaining in tapping our natural inner wells of joy.
y sweet dad did construction like you. He did odd jobs for all our neighbors, and worked in my elementary school. He used to dress up in costumes to entertain all the students on holidays. He passed away before so turned 12. But he was my whole life. He loved the whole world - he loved improving things for others, and healing the world with his hands- fixing all that was broken. Making simple things from nothing. You are like him. And that is wonderful.
Thank you for all that you do.
I am a welder.. although I don't do it for a living any more I find such a peace and joy when I'm under hood. There is a pride I have knowing I have stuff I built in Japan, and all over the USA. We spend so much time focusing on college education that I think we forget that it's the hands that build everything. Not every one is cut out for college . Not everyone enjoys that type of stuff. Some just love the pure and utter joy that comes with the accomplishment of building something.