RE: Why Americans should rest

[Karen Watters Cole]

And, what else should I see in my morning paper on Labor Day?    FOR MANY, JOB’S A TRIAL AND ORDEAL @ http://www.newhouse.com/archive/story1a082702.html, which includes some data and statistics many on FW are already familiar with, but it was this quote that got my attention:   “Popular culture also encourages all this moaning about jobs, said Andrew DuBrin, a management professor at the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology and author of more than 20 books dealing with human behavior in the workplace. "What gets me is how this is reinforced by radio commentators and talk shows -- they call Wednesday `Hump Day,' and keep talking about how it's `almost Friday,"' DuBrin said.  "A lot of people might be passionate about what they do, but griping about work is part of our culture." The "underlying theme that's the most insidious" in the complaints that Barbara Reinhold continually hears is "the feeling we don't have control over how our lives are lived," she said.  Reinhold is director of career and executive development at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. "The question to ask is, `Am I afraid to leave the job?' Or, `Am I enjoying victimhood?"' Reinhold said.  "Either way, the response is to get help."     P.S. While on the subject of stressing out and “dumbing down”, anything that puts shock jocks, rabid radio & TV commentators and just plain “There’s a fool born every minute” jabber masquerading as semi-intelligent commentary gets my approval. – Karen, still trying to regain control over how my life is lived