Name one positive thing.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

Working gives you other than money? I'll go first. For me it would be the structure that working lends to my life. You? Rob

[Chicken lady]

The relationships with my students. Many of my favorite people are in my classes.

[catherine]

Challenges me to step outside my comfort zone.

[Yppej]

A reprieve when things are tense at home.

[Alan]

What is this work thing you speak of?

[Simplemind]

Socialization and a chance to hone my problem solving skills.

[JaneV2.0]

Ultimately, freedom and a pension--though I know that's a vanishing concept.

[Gardnr]

RN: Making a difference in the day of our patients! And providing a safe/fun work environment for my team! (Leadership for final 27y of career).

[Teacher Terry]

I think teaching my class helps to keep my old brain sharp.

[Rogar]

I worked in a brewery for a while and there were some free beer privileges.

Actually, work was mentally challenging and was a lesson in working with others, including both interesting and difficult personalities. It was a personal growth opportunity. There were travel adventures to interesting places paid for by employers. It wasn't all good and retirement has it's own benefits. I think of it as another adventure.

[iris lilies]

When I worked for money there were intellectual challenges that interested me. I liked certain aspect of the job, no loved thrm, that required analytical review and even some creativity.

Great question, Rob!

[bae]

I don't work for money.

But I enjoy saving lives, the camaraderie of my team, the technical challenges, the constant learning and training, the intellectual challenge, the physical exertion, the pleasure of putting my mind and body on the line in dangerous circumstances to help people, and a dozen other things.

[SteveinMN]

I probably would rank the intellectual challenge (of harnessing technology) highest. It's what I missed most when I left.

[Tybee]

I love it when my students get excited about learning and go charging off to learn more. Very gratifying.

[pinkytoe]

As a retired person, I miss the camaraderie of fellow employees.

[ApatheticNoMore]

When it's real hot it's good to go into that industrial air conditioned office (and much of the year it's too cold there, well yep, never forget a jacket, but sometimes central air darn well beats a windowbox A/C , it can get hot here in summer, and then I'm glad to have an office to go to). Maybe 10% (maybe it's 5%, I've never really done the math, I doubt it's 15% but who knows) of the time work is actually interesting and I'm like "hey it's pretty cool i learned to do this". And the rest of the time, oh it's boring as all get go, well yep, much more often pretty boring than not.

Yea I don't know I'm not good at lying to myself about work and pretending it's that much more than a paycheck and healthcare coverage. But it doesn't matter, it must be done regardless whether one is rebelling and angry at it, or just accepting it. It quite literally doesn't matter, one has to go to work regardless, one may as well just accept it, even if pretending one loves it is a bridge too far. And the social prestige of having money and paycheck? Sure to a degree it matters, involuntary unemployment doesn't make one feel very worthwhile for sure, but still it's mostly about money, only a bit about that.

[KayLR]

I enjoy problem-solving. And the freedom of creativity at some level. Also, I like encouraging others. That's probably my greatest perk.

[happystuff]

Here and now, I am primarily working for money. Sadly, not seeing additional perks at the moment.

[Selah]

Connections with people I would have never met otherwise, and the opportunity to learn about their lives, hopes, dreams, concerns, and ambitions. I always learn enough to keep me engaged and interested. For that, I am extraordinarily fortunate! Plus, working at home gives me time, health, saved money, and peace of mind I would NEVER have if I were commuting to work.

[mschrisgo2]

I love teaching because it makes my heart happy to see kids learning. I’m working with a homeschooled 13 yr old this year. He has gone from 3 grade level math and reading comprehension to high 7th grade level in 6 months.

[Teacher Terry]

Ms, that’s awesome!

[LDAHL]

Now that I’m not working anymore, I sort of miss the occasional jolt of hatred and contempt in committee meetings, which surprises me. Arguing with the wife and kid is not the same, and my dog is a total yes man.

[iris lilies]

Now that I’m not working anymore, I sort of miss the occasional jolt of hatred and contempt in committee meetings, which surprises me. Arguing with the wife and kid is not the same, and my dog is a total yes man.
You need to find an internet snark site. Plenty of fun antipathy on those sites.

A friend told me that...

[LDAHL]

You need to find an internet snark site. Plenty of fun antipathy on those sites.

A friend told me that...

I could. But after years of working with professionals amateurs playing for trivial stakes would seem like a step down.

[pony mom]

My current job gives me the feeling of a large family. I work at an assisted living facility, and the residents are like my elderly aunts and uncles. My own family is quite small on one side (we don't really see anyone on my dad's side). I'm with the residents during holidays and their birthdays, and also see them decline in health. We get quite attached to them and are sad when they pass.

[Tybee]

Pony Mom, that sounds so nice.
My parents are in assisted living in another state, a 3 day drive, so it makes my heart happy to hear folks who work there who appreciate being around older folks.

[Lead]

I work in big companies in an industry that requires rational and logical thinking (engineering, managing projects and people. Ok, for the last one, soft skills are also needed). For me, my work has (1) intensified my already strong tendency to think rationally and in a structured way. That is useful in everyday life too; (2) taught me the value of politics. I am always been a too direct AND idealistic kind of person and I can tell you, one needs to un-learn just a bit of it in favour of "politics" (in the good sense of forming coalitions) if one is to survive in a corporation; (3) I have been forced to hone my skills in matter of productivity (by nature I tended more to be a bit dispersive) and this again, is useful in my every day life too since I have a household, a husband, and a daughter to take care of on top of my 9 to 5 job - now also setting up a private business. My the way: I thank you very much for posting this question simplelife (I shorten your name :) , as it kind of forced me and others to find the good things that working has given us. That s always good, as the human brain is notoriously prone to focus only on the problems in a situation, less on the positive aspects. Although this characteristics has helped our ancestors survive in the wild, it is much less useful nowadays but we still come to life with this software pre-installed :-)

[beckyliz]

Respect from my colleagues; adult conversation (don't get much at home), structure (like Rob says), feeling of accomplishment, get to go to one or two conferences a year in a nice location.