Thanks for Thirty Years! Here's your watch, goodbye!

You know, this post isn't going to be about anything more then some random thoughts I've been having in the last couple of days. During the last couple of weeks there have been a couple of people retire from my work which has got me thinking a little bit. Now I don't want to sound to cynical about the corporate establishment, or really any work establishment for that matter because the principles apply to any workplace I think. But, in a nutshell, I'm going to be cynical for a moment.

In my short career so far I've had the opportunity to watch the retirement thing go on several times, enough to note some similarities.

First, we all seem to have a much bigger opinion (myself included) about how important we were to our work establishment then what is truly reality. I've seen the parties and the tears and the make sure your not a stranger, come back and see us poor working folks when you have a chance. etc, etc etc. In truth however those moving on are quickly forgotten, the daily grind moves on as usual, positions are refilled and those who went before us are occassionally remembered off hand in a meeting or something, "do you remember when so and so.... oh yea that was funny..... I wonder what they're up too... ok moving on to business."

Second, people seem to get so caught up in the day to day totally unimportant stuff that completely doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. I mean if you really think about the plan of salvation and how it applies in our lives does work really matter besides being a means to provide for our families? Does it really matter how important you were or what title you held. I should mention here that I plan on being CEO someday:)

I've made the point to my wife several times about how I do not understand why the whole career, working 40 to 60 hours a week for over 30 years of my life to end up being just an after thought to a meeting that my co-workers are having can be so desirable to some. Maybe it is just me but I find so much more joy in so many other things. In particular my family. Now that is probably easier for me to say since I am not the one staying home with no adult interaction. If I was the one staying home my blog title would probably be "Death to the Purple Dinosaur" instead of One Great Life. But I think overall I have some valid points.

Now I am not complaining, I am more then happy to fill the roll of provider and I am so grateful for how blessed I have been in regards to my career. It was definately not an accident that I have been able to progress career wise the way that I have and I have to acknowledge that it has been due to many, many blessings that we have sufficient for our needs.

I am also very grateful for my wonderful wife who is willing to fill her role as a mother and a nuturer. Just like the talk last conference, she is a mom who knows how important and precious our children are. She knows it is going to be hard enough to succeed in life and in the gospel with a mother in the home let alone without one. Her desire to do what is right for our children inspires me to try harder to make it possible for her to continue to do the important work she is doing. I am so grateful beyond words for what she does on a daily basis for our family.

Now I don't want to minimalize the fact that people can and do make significant contributions on a daily basis in their place of employment. I will continue to work hard and do my best. I just hope I can remember what is truly important in life. That the true joy comes from knowing my family is ok and that in the end work was just a paycheck.

To the credit of my co-workers who have just moved on, I think they understood all of that stuff. So to them I say the best of luck, have a great time doing whatever it is you'll be doing. I'll look forward to remembering you occasionally as the cycle of life continues.

The pictures are from our little trip up to the snow in the nearby mountains last Saturday. The kids had a blast and we got some hot chocolate from the lodge up there.