Living To Eat

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I was riding home on the train last night and there was a guy chowing down.  “Eating” would be a gross understatement – he was mechanically stuffing his face for nearly the entire hour of the train ride.  Since it’s Friday, he seemed right on topic for our weekly food theme.

If you walk around at lunch time you might spot a number of people behaving in a similar manner.  They’re focused on something other than their food.  Eating is something they do because at some point we all have to.  I get the sense that if they could take a pill and be done with the eating thing they would.  Then there are the folks that don’t really seem to be enjoying their food but just keep eating it.  When they’re done with one thing – or whatever is on their plate – they’ll move on to the next thing – or to your plate!  Kind of food sharks – they must keep eating even if they’re not hungry.

Which of course prompted a business thought.

The people I describe above eat because they have to, not because they really want to or because it brings them any pleasure.  Now think of that in terms of work.  How many people do you know that show up, do their jobs, wish they were somewhere else, and leave as soon as they can?  They have bills to pay – they need financial nutrition – so they work.  Hey – you gotta eat, right?  They might even overdo it as many folks do at the table even though their minds are elsewhere.

Obviously I’m not suggesting that people stop eating or working.  What I am suggesting is that people be in that moment.  Mindless munching – whether at a desk or in front of a TV – is an all too common activity for us.  Just “showing up” for work might be too.  If you realize you dislike what you’re eating or that you’re full, stop.  If you hate your boss and/or your job, stop that too and put some effort into fixing it.  What happens to folks who just keep eating to live is that they wake up one morning fat and miserable  and wondering how they got that way.  A bad work situation can do that to you too.

Are you living to work or working to live?