Happiness is doing a job well

Happiness is doing a job well

“I always strive to complete a job given to me in a way that satisfies me. The word ‘happiness’ in relation to completing a job to my satisfaction to date had never crossed my mind, but you have helped me find this word ‘Happiness’ even whilst doing a ‘routine’ or ‘mundane’ job and I am glad you helped me find it.”

– This is what our Company Secretary Rita Malgaonkar wrote in response to my statement “Happiness is doing a job well”.

This comment by Rita made me think this morning. With me there is nothing like a ‘mundane’, ‘routine’ job and as for us I know I do not have a different standard for the so-called ‘mundane’, ‘routine’ job.

If ‘mundane’, ‘routine’ job means the repetitive work of the everyday activity of making the bed, washing dishes & cloths, cleaning the house and tidying the cupboards, I do have my own standard for doing these too and I follow it meticulously for my own satisfaction.

I have observed the ways of doing various activities of people in my life, like my parents, family, friends and so many people I come across and developed a working style all of my own.

(Everyday I remember my sister Kala, while folding my petticoat and my mother when I put away my clothes in the cupboard. When I put off doing the routine, I often think of my neighbour in Scottsdale Mrs. Lethy (1970 – 77) who maintained her garden patch next to our common picket fence so meticulously that it never looked as if it needed tending. I haven’t forgotten my friend Mrs. Baliga, of a long long time ago (1962 - 64), who used to make Poli, chakli and laddu so perfectly, evenly shaped.)

For me the adage ‘if a job has to be done, it has to be done well’ holds true for whatever I do. If I take up a job I can’t do it with an attitude that this much attention to details is enough for this job.

This might create a certain amount of tension and stress in me. I can live with it but not the unhappy feeling and dissatisfaction of having done a shoddy job.

I know I have to work on this aspect of me to be equipoised after the event. Though it is acceptable to be happy when the result turns out good and accept it as a reward for efforts put in, I have to learn not to get overly agitated when it doesn’t turn out as expected. I should overcome the feeling that my ‘shortcoming’ is visible for all to see, in my creations.