Day 2-16 -- Is work-life balance a fable?

The end of another week -- with many tasks not completed.  I'm not sure how that occurs. I have plans and then things go sideways when I'm not looking.  In turn, I'm in the midst of completing prep for classes next week during another weekend.  At least this will be done from home and not from the office.  If one is paying rent it is reasonable to spend some time in the abode <smile>. 

One of my favourite lines from an early episode of Downton Abbey is when the Dowager (Dame Maggie Smith) says in all innocence, "What's a weekend?"  While this made me laugh a bit at the chasm between the aristocracy and the commoners, it also made me think about how we are socialized to see the weekend as a time off work. Many people work weekends -- if someone is shopping someone else is working in the shops.  Many emergency services and health care providers and work all day every day. Educators also work weekends to be fully prepared for classes.  So, why is it that I still expect the weekend to provide me with some time to do 'not work' things?  I enjoy my job, but I have other interests that can be shoved aside in order to fulfil the expectations of the job. Trends in the work world seem to be towards higher expectations from employers and a work force that seems to expect some degree of work life balance. It is unclear how these two extremes will be reconciled. Perhaps the coming generation will have more luck -- there are fewer of them, so they can't be as easily replaced as the multitude of baby boomers. I certainly wish them luck in finding that balance. 

So - while balance can seem elusive or even mythical, some type of balance must be found. We all search in our own ways. One song seems to fit the concepts of searching presented today.  It has been sung by several groups but I'm going with the original band for this one (but recommend the version by Geddy Lee, too). Enjoy!

The Seeker -- The Who