Friday Five 15-October-2021 #1 We learned more from a three-minute record, baby

[elusivek]

Not waiting for the other one, so I'm doing the F.riday5.com first.

1. Who needs you?
I've slowly developed the mentality that I am dispensible. No, this has nothing to do with negativity and depression. This is practical. When I was younger, I used to think the company would need me and thus would not fire me. Touch-wood I've never been fired, but I've slowly changed my mentality. I cannot think that way. If the company wants to replace me, they can sure do that if they please. Nobody is irreplaceable. That's why, I should always do my best to my abilities and try to be as comprehensive as I can. So, the company doesn't really need me. My Boss doesn't really need me. But I would go the extra mile in my work so they find that it's better having me than someone else.

2. Who runs to you?
Certainly, my doggies when I come home from work, or come home from the shopping. Heck, when I come home from taking the trash out.

3. Who forgets you?
The present tense of the question makes me want to think about someone who constantly forgets me, but my brain simply goes to simply one incident that happened a long time ago. I'm sure there are many more other such situations, but this one stung the worst. I am in the habit of going out for lunch earlier (standard lunch hour is 13.00-14.00, but I tend to go 12.30-13.30 to avoid crowds and gain some quiet working time). So this one time, my colleague-friend asked me to wait for her because she wanted to lunch with me that day. OK, so I stayed on. I knew she was in a meeting, so 12.30 came and went, 13.00 came and went, I assumed her meeting had overrun. Finally, she comes at 14.30. "Hey how was your lunch?" she asked me. I looked at her wide-eyed, then I put an annoyed face and raised and eyebrow. "Oh shit I'm so sorry, I forgot I asked you for lunch and went lunch with the people I had the meeting with!" Gee, thanks. I was still on the low-end of staff grading at that time, so I had no paid duty lunch, but even if I had, there was a time limit for the lunch receipt to show the time as before 14.30. Then, the staff canteen only served lunch till 14.30 as well, so I was out of luck. I had to go out and get lunch out of pocket. I was never really seriously mad at this colleague-friend, but I avoided accepting lunch dates from her when I know that she has a meeting before lunch. I guess she's also been more careful about that since then.

4. Who keeps you hangin’ on?
The long answer would be THE DOGS, but then, at the end of the day, I have to say, it's me. I have to keep myself hanging on. I shouldn't make someone else or something else the priority of my life. It has to be me!

5. Who’s watching you?
I dunno. Sounds creepy. If by "watching" it means that they will bestow upon me all the riches and free time in the world, hey yeah, show up so I can thank you. But nay. This sounds more like a stalker situation. Though I must say my dogs would be watching me intently when I'm eating snacks, especially if it's ice cream, or any kind of flavourful snacks.

This week's questions close with one more music clip.

Comments

[exalting.livejournal.com]

My father always used to tell me that no one is indispensable, and I took that to mean I'd be replaced if I didn't overwork myself or, at minimum, work my hardest at all times. But I've come to realize that the corporation's willingness to replace people also means that we should be wary of that "we're a family" rhetoric and make sure to take care of ourselves first. Funnily enough, after realizing that and changing my behavior accordingly, I started to be more successful at work.

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

These are good questions :) I agree that it is not practical to think that anyone actually needs you. It is also not a very healthy relationship. You should be with people because you want to, not because you need them, and vice versa. People at your company may be able to find a person if you ever had to leave, but I think what you can give them is more than just the job. How you interact with people, the cheer and caring really can make a difference and make them WANT to keep you and vice versa.

Gah... Reminded me of a time my parents forgot to pick me and my sister up at Waterloo Market when we were visiting Holland. (sort of a Home Alone situationLOL) We walked a couple of hours back to the B&B. It was quite an adventure.

Someone watching you could also mean, someone in your family that checks up on you or looks up to you and copies you, too. My dog also watches me closely so she can sneak into the kitchen when I am not looking :D

[scrivener (from livejournal.com)]

Understanding and embracing the reality that nobody is indispensable is a healthy way to approach your job, and I think it makes one better at it, not only as motivation to perform well, but as a way of maintaining humility even when you do well. Approaching everything with "apprentice eyes" (as a friend of mine puts it) lets you keep learning new things even in familiar tasks, and helps you solve problems better. I'm with you!