Responsibility, what's that? Responsibility, not quite yet.

I went to a meeting last night about a homeless project that we are helping with at our church. The simple formula is: over the cold winter months 7 churches each open their doors on a different night of the week to allow a specially selected group of rough sleepers a roof over their head for the night and a hot dinner and breakfast. I am co-organising this with another 'girl' from church.

Towards the end of the meeting the lady sitting next to me, lent in, in a confidence inspiring way, to tell me that i should mention to my manager my involvement in this project. She stated that then my manager would recognise that i am developing my leadership skills and might make me a manager one day. For some odd reason this blatant (yet accidental) undermining of my own existing abilities made me want to cry so as i focused on that i squeeked out a 'yes', before scuttling away.

There are many 'come backs' i thought of on my drive home, (yes i am old enough to drive) about my current responsibilities- kids, house, work etc. I also tried to reinforce that she was complementing me on how young (or stupid?) i look. But the reality of the matter is, most of the world thinks that promotion is the end goal at work.

Wrong.

This frustrates me so much. What is wrong with being happy in your job? Of accepting your pay and you role? I don't want to be a manager. I don't really want a different job, unless i get bored.

This kind of attitude is ridiculous. I'm not sure about other industries but in social work, getting good at it means promotion and moving away from social work into managing social workers. No more speaking with vulnerable people, no more leaving the office, no more social work, really.

It should not be assumed that the whole world should aspire to be something better than they are currently. Perhaps some people do, but a culture of this creates a vacum of people not feeling good enough when they are happy with who they are and what they do.

 Here is a picture i took of a dinosaur, whilst not wanting a promotion.

Here is me cutting a homemade cake whilst not wanting a promotion

 

 Wearing a baby and still not caring.

When i was playing with these Happyland people guess what? I didn't want a promotion.