SPCNETers, are you happy with your current job? Do you think your job has made you a better person in some way or another? Do you see your job as a significant part of you?
I attend high school and go to work typically three to four times per week, at the local McDonalds store in my area. Now, before I worked at this place, I used to be worker of the same company but at a different franchise in a Shopping mall - I hated the experience; the managers seemed nasty and the pay was horrible so after 3 strenuous months I quit and applied for my current store, which has been a much better experience thus far.
Although I'm much happier at my new store and I'm earning more money than I used to, some days I go into the store unmotivated and on the rare occasion, I'm irritable and upset. Part of the reason is I'm always running around, and working very hard in the Kitchen, and I'm always stocking up the meat products and moving between stations - I know this is part of the job, and I never complain because I understand my role and the duties I must do, but at times, I feel (some) of my managers and co-workers don't see how hard I'm working - I try my best to fulfill my obligations and contribute as much to the store as I possibly can. The reason I work so hard and try to do my best is because I feel like work is a big part of me; it's helped me to learn lessons in life, especially the importance of team work, and on good days, I feel proud (silly, isnt' it?) to have this job, even though I know a lot of other people would think "WTF?!"
Most people at work treat me well, and I only have issues with a few staff and my relationship with one manager in particular is not the best - she yells at me sometimes and thinks I'm an idiot and other crew in the front are always heckling us back area people to make the food items faster.
I suppose I want to know, how do the rest of you cope with your jobs? What do you do that helps you get through it when you're at a stage when you feel like giving up? Is there a philosophy that you believe in?