The last time I went visiting home, I ran into some not- so- immediate neighbours. The 50-something aunts who have never worked in an office their entire lives but who like to ask you what you do for a living.
I have worked 6 plus years in an industry that squeezed me to a size zero with endless days of work, meetings and stress. So, I decided to take a well-deserved break to do things I enjoy, look a bit healthy and just be at home to work at my own pace. So to be asked what I do for "time-pass" is something that amused me quite a bit.
Why does one needs to work in an office outside the house just to prove how busy and independent one really is?
Having visited and stayed on both sides of the fence, I feel this entire conversation is wasted. Atleast on me.
Most women work because they need the money. Some work because they love to network, or because they get pleasure from the kind of work they do - could be research-led or in design or something noble like healthcare.
Lots of women also work because they are talented and they want to showcase that talent.
Everyone can find a job at some place or the other, doing something or the other so how does it make anyone less talented or hopeless if they decide to stay at home??
And just for the record, whoever said staying at home meant a vacation?
In the Western World, you can also do office work from home. Along with the other jobs that are taken for granted elsewhere - yes, that includes doing dishes, gardening, washing, cleaning, cooking, shopping, entertaining...the list is endless but time as we all know is limited...so once again I ask, "TIME PASS??!?!"
Of course, the condescending attitude isn´t just from the 50s- something aunts. Sometimes I get it from people who belong to the same age group as me.
They like to term "house-work" as a brain-dead job. I let them live in their fantasy world. Fact is, the beds don´t clean themselves, the clothes don´t get washed and ironed magically, good food doesn´t prepare itself. There is work involved in every one of those chores. Hard work. Work that requires careful planning, execution and skill.
So here´s what:
If you want to stay at home and love staying at home, do just that. Do not let pessimistic people make you change your mind.
If you like to step out, make new friends and work outside the house to make some money, go ahead.
Remember each has its merits. So no need to compare the two.
Chairman isn´t a post just at the office. One can enjoy it at home as well.
