My Zen Jobs

My Zen Jobs

I do not have a fully time job. I’d like one, largely for the routine and income consistency. It would allow me to save, invest and plan for the future with a sense of predictability.

Instead, what I have are small part time jobs at various locations around Adelaide. This is why you’ll see photos of me wearing different uniforms and aprons in my posts.

Some of those jobs are what I call “Zen Jobs”.

What Are Zen Jobs?

I’d first heard the term a few decades ago when I used to post regularly on Livejournal.

I had a good friend named Ann Lucas. Her definition of a zen job was volunteering at her local nursery, watering plants. She could do a lot of thinking while working on her book “Life-dance”. She passed away due to an aneurysm caused by alcoholism shortly after the novel was published.

My definition of a “zen” job is going to be different to yours, and it’s subject to our own preferences.

To me, a zen job is one that you can look forward to.
There is no micro management, but if there does need to be a course correction or some change, it’s stated clearly and politely.

You’re taught where everything is, the methodology of the work involved and you are often left alone to do the job.
They will still watch to make sure everything is running smoothly.

The pace might be a little slower than most jobs as there isn’t the usual “Time is money” mantra overruling everything. Even if things get busy or intense, you don’t mind over all because you like the company environment so much.

The clients are often friendly, or at least say thank you for your service. I sometimes get called “Sir” or they will sometimes start a conversation.

The staff and managment greet me warmly on a first name basis as I walk in.

The other staff will often ask me if I’d like a drink during the shift and the chefs will often prepare meals for the staff to eat or take home after their shifts.

These are some of free meals made for me:

As you can see they can go a little overboard, but that food would have gone to waste if it wasn’t offered to me and the other workers.

Even a full time job can have zen elements to it.

Do you have a zen job? (It can even be a hobby).

Thank you for reading this.

Shaidon

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