Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Not Work Anymore!


I was just in my 4th or 5th grade when my teacher asked the whole class to memorize a certain kind of poem.

At that time, as an immature and nonchalant boy, I kept asking and complaining to myself “Why would I memorize such “long” poem?! Would it be a waste of time?! I wanna have my snack now!”

But as I now try to repeat that poem in my mind, as an aspiring and young professional, I am beginning to see the depth of that poem. It isn’t that long, and I admit it that I have already forgotten the exact words and sequence. However, the lesson it attempted to force into my mind years ago has somehow sprouted now that I was compelled to search for the exact words of the poem.

Love Your Work
by H. L. Neri

If you don’t like your work,
you’ll need three times the energy
to force yourself to work
to resist the force
and finally to work.

If you love your work,
your desire to do it
will be like a wind
to propel your ship
with much less fuel.

If you like your work,
you work no more
for work when you like it
is work no longer
but sheer enjoyment.

If you enjoy your work,
you’ll work and work
without counting the hours
and you’ll reap and enjoy
more earnings as well.
Indeed, in that poem resides a valuable and priceless treasure. In fact, going beyond the word “work”, we could replace that to anything we are presently trying to be accomplished.

May we find our “work” to be a sheer enjoyment!

© 2010 Erickson Ibana