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Greetings all,
I have been struggling with this one for some time. I tend to pick jobs at businesses that close down, go bankrupt, downsize the workforce, or for whackos that enjoy living out their family dysfunction on their employees/coworkers instead of seeking therapy. I worked at low paying service jobs for years, happy and employed for years at a time. As soon as I moved to the corporate world for higher pay – I haven’t been able to keep a job for more than one year at a time. 15 jobs in 15 years is getting old.
Now that I am seeking employment again, in this time of fear-mongering economic state, the jobs are even fewer and farther between. I live in San Diego, where defense contracting is huge. To find employment without it being tied to the military in some way is challenging. Then there’s the healthcare industry, where I feel they are a bunch of leeches preying on the sick and elderly.
Green jobs are rarer than finding another Hope Diamond. Short of shaving my head and moving to a monastic existence, I am not sure what to do. It seems crazy to turn down a job right now on principle alone, when I’ve been unemployed for months now. In other words, how does one find Right Livelihood in today’s world?
I have been struggling with this one for some time. I tend to pick jobs at businesses that close down, go bankrupt, downsize the workforce, or for whackos that enjoy living out their family dysfunction on their employees/coworkers instead of seeking therapy. I worked at low paying service jobs for years, happy and employed for years at a time. As soon as I moved to the corporate world for higher pay – I haven’t been able to keep a job for more than one year at a time. 15 jobs in 15 years is getting old.
Now that I am seeking employment again, in this time of fear-mongering economic state, the jobs are even fewer and farther between. I live in San Diego, where defense contracting is huge. To find employment without it being tied to the military in some way is challenging. Then there’s the healthcare industry, where I feel they are a bunch of leeches preying on the sick and elderly.
Green jobs are rarer than finding another Hope Diamond. Short of shaving my head and moving to a monastic existence, I am not sure what to do. It seems crazy to turn down a job right now on principle alone, when I’ve been unemployed for months now. In other words, how does one find Right Livelihood in today’s world?
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San Diego
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Re: Right Livelihood
Mon, July 20, 2009 - 12:10 AMyou could go into business based on your own passions. Hard work but maybe thats the change you need.
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Re: Right Livelihood
Mon, August 3, 2009 - 2:00 AMLaura -
I feel your existential pain...
Principles are important, but you are not doing any one a favor by denying yourself a means to a living on principle alone. Its hard to find the ideal, purely "right" livelihood, but if pays the bills until you can find a truly fullfilling job, and doesn't involve the military industrial complex or the meat industry, I say you're good.
I work as an EMT myself, and I find little fault in that. Unconditional service to people in dire need, low monetary incentive, and a constant sense of living in the moment are, to me, evidence of right livelihood but its by no means a "pure" living. We charge people, we support the healthcare system, and we (on some level) encourage people to have no fear of bad decisions (i.e. drug use, smoking, driving recklessly etc) because we will always come to the rescue...
Anything entrepreneurial is preffered to working for a corporation, but it can be hard to get started unless you have money to invest. Also comes with the obvious risk. Massage therapy, carpentry, photography, teaching, public speaking, all are good ways to make supplemental income, with the option of doing them full-time. They generally serve a positive purpose and usually involve a conscious creative experience.
Finding right livelihood in American culture is exceedingly difficult because the culture is built on unrestrained consumerism and unnecessary services that people have become dependent on.
Trying to change that is like telling a little kid to sleep without his nightlight.
Peace&Love:-)
-Vincenzo
