What do you do?
So what do you do? An innocent question, a perfect question, an absolute ice breaker. Whether you are meeting strangers or friends of friends, ‘What do you do?’ sounds like a perfect opening question. But do you really care? Or are you secretly weighing down the answers to decide if the person you are talking to is a complete waste of your precious time. Or depending on the level of answers, you have a little ego trip? Normally the answers call for designation, how boring or interesting your work is, where you are working or how much you are making. How can it be an innocent or a perfect question? On the contrary, it could be probing, judgemental and uncomfortable.
What do you do? I eat, I drink, I sleep, I yawn, I smile, I laugh, I cry, I read, I scribble, I write, I play, I wash, I drive, I run, I jog, I clean, I shop, I juggle, I organise, I do all that and more.
No boundary, no limitation, I keep going on and on. Now, isn’t that you? How can a ‘What do you do?’ force you to define yourself?
Sometimes, just for the sake of ticking a box, to answer that light looking heavy question, you kill your spirit and wear out. You smile but it doesn’t reach your eyes. So what do you so? How do you have your peaceful existence and shield yourself from the distractions?
This is honest goodness truth. You have no idea how I have come to where I am now or why I have chosen my path. Similarly, I have no idea about your hows and whys? But that question’ what do you do?’ does stump you. Isn’t it?
I would like to share with you something that I read (thanks to a fellow blogger) and it’s without doubt inspiring and shouts out loud that ‘you don’t give a toss’.
Whenever you are in a situation and trust me, you will know it. Just remind yourself:
‘GOOD FOR HER! NOT FOR ME.’
Much love
Suranjta
PS: The quote is from Amy Poehler’s book, Yes Please: “Good for her! Not for me.”
Well, sometimes the question does lead to some interesting conversations. But some other times I do not know what to say. For example someone told me recently – I work in waste management and I was honestly at a loss for words.
Thank you Naina for stopping by. All sorts of responses, isn’t it? That was funny though…how do you follow up ‘waste management’:-)
I used to answer this question with, “Nothing, I’m just a stay at home mum” and then I realised that actually, that is something amazing in itself! I agree that you cannot know a person from just this question alone, we are all of us so much more than just what we do, and what we do is often so much more than it sounds! #brilliantblogposts
Thank you so much for your lovely message. Really appreciate it xx. I really enjoyed reading your post on the day filled with sunshine:-)
#Brilliantblogposts
I love this and so true. Since stopping (paid for) work and becoming a ‘stay at home mum’ my first words are not my profession but that I stay at home with the kids and write and this is usually received by a blank look! We always feel the need to justify and explain and we all do a myriad of activites in every day but is that what defines us. I love the way you so succintly descirbe how people judge and compete silently- so well written thank you! Lou at http://www.peppermintcove.com #Brilliantblogposts
Thank you so much Lou! Your message on twitter brought a big smile on my face. In fact, I read your post “do you compare” yesterday but something or the other kept coming. Hence the delayed response. Looking forward to reading more from you.#Brilliantblogposts
It can be a loaded question but often people are just looking for ways to connect and to find out more about you x
Thank you Vicky:-) Indeed it is..but knowing the balance (when it gets uncomfortable for a person). Sometimes, it’s the other way around where you don’t know what to follow up with?!! Looking forward to reading more from you!