Today is the 1st day of May, also regarded as Labor Day or Workers Day. Right from when I was still a kid, I have been hearing of Workers Day, and I thought it was just another holiday to have fun and play at home, but now I have become a worker and I have come to realize that this day is more than just a holiday.
The 1st of May is a day that has been set aside by the world to celebrate the hardworking individuals who form the backbone of our society. It is a time to recognize the countless contributions of laborers in various fields and industries, from construction workers and factory employees to healthcare professionals and even teachers.
It is very obvious that these workers are the backbone of our society because imagine if one major sector like the health sector goes on a nationwide strike, a lot of people would drop dead within a few minutes. This shows that without dedicated workers in the society, our planet wouldn't be as comforting and accommodating as it is today.
Today I stand as a worker to salute my fellow workers in the society because it has not been easy dedicating almost 70-80% of our time daily doing service to improve the world at large. If it were left for me the worker's day holiday would be more than 1 day (I would probably make it 1 week or even 1 month, lol).
The origin of the Labor Day celebration can be traced back to the 19th century when the Haymarket workers in Chicago protested for their work time to be reduced to at least 8 hours per day. It was on this day that they succeeded in establishing the 8-hour maximum work time for laborers.
Their legacy is a testament to the power of collective action, as their quest for justice within the labor sector is positively impacting laborers even till today. This day is basically to remind us of the sacrifices made to secure the rights and protections workers enjoy today. So if you are a worker, today is really a great day for you, enjoy it.
Sadly I am a worker, but my job doesn't observe the worker's day celebration because if we do things might go wrong in the country. I am in the military line of duty, and by default, I am supposed to give all my 24 hours to my job every day till I retire. Although there are days when we get free to do as we want, but most days are occupied for us.
Every day, as we go about our various lives, countless other individuals are toiling in silence, their hard work often invisible yet impactful to society. They are usually the hands that build the roofs over our heads, some of them are the nurturing souls who care for our children and parents.
And they are also the vigilant ones like me who ensure their territory is safe from bad guys. Believe me when I say our collective efforts are what is still keeping this Earth going. Some workers are been oppressed by their bosses on a regular basis, but their commitment and dedication won't let them sleep even an extra hour when it's Monday morning.
One of my very good neighbors here is a teacher, and she greets me every morning while passing to work. I overheard her complaining to a friend about the stress she was going through with the students, and I interrupted them by jokingly saying "1st of May is coming to deliver you", lol. She laughed and argued that the holiday is too short for her.
Yes, the holiday might be short for most workers, but it would be best if we treat it as a day of remembrance. This day basically invites us to pause and immerse ourselves in the spirit of respect and recognition for the laborers whose contributions often go unnoticed.
My entry for day 1 of the InLeo monthly prompt, organized by the InLeo team. You can check out the link here for participation.
