sore bum

I'm a pretty modest person for the most part. I don't require any fanfare or silliness or reward for doing my job. Perhaps this is merely what spending almost a decade working for a tyrant does to a person. "You're not fired today," is the equivalent of, "Hey - good job little buddy..." and so when I do my job, the satisfaction I feel from doing it well, to the satisfaction of others, has always been more than reward enough.

Today, my bum is sore from having people pat it. It's uncomfortable, unfamiliar territory. It throws my humility all out of whack. So now I'm curious - how many of you feel genuinely appreciated on a daily basis, simply by the fact you aren't fired and know you're doing an OK job, and how many of you feel like if you don't get that pat on the bum, you never really know where you stand?

Comments

Babzy said…
I envy you having a rewarding job and an appreciative boss. One of my biggest regrets is not getting into a different line of work.

I have transported myself back to the work world and took a few notes. Can't say that I've ever had the feeling of being genuinely appreciated on a daily basis at work. Maybe the appreciation has been there now and again and I've been closed to receiving it due to the fact that I have never had a job I really like. (must post about this later)

I do know where I stand (stood) at all times in the workplace but not due to appreciation; more likely due to rebellion and confrontation.

What is it you do, again? Sorcerer's Apprentice?
ticblog said…
Official Title: Reseacrh Administration. Unofficial Title: Babysitter. I do everything from financial management to contract completion to events planning to complining course notes to beating up the photocopier when it won't print the course work... I make sure our students are taken care of, too... And I enjoy what I do - it is genuinely gratifying - and I enjoy the people I work with. And they pay me well enough to make it worth my while to keep going back. Those things, combined, make it a great place to work. So the bum patting is just a lot to take, when really, going home and feeling like I've accomplished something useful and meaningful is all the reward I need. I warned the bossman that if he dared to haul me up in front of all the delegates to give me flowers or some such nonsense for this network meeting that has consumed all my blogging and emails and photo processing time I would break his lovely kneecaps.

Perhaps I need to learn to be a bit more gracious.
alphonsedamoose said…
Sounded pretty gracious to me.LOL. I think we all need a little pat on the bum every once in a while. It is good for morale of all involved.
Too much is not a good thing because then it really doesn't mean anything.Too little and you feel under-appreciated. A nice happy balance is needed.I get that at my work and I try to pass it on to others.
Lynda said…
I love it when people pat me on the back. (please don't pat my bum, lol!) I don't know why, probably stems from my upbringing and not getting enough back (bum) pats when I was itsy-bitsy??? Now that I'm all growed up, I pat my own back (bum). I know when I've done a good job and I tell my bosses that too. And you, beautiful lady, definitely must learn to be a bit more gracious. Everything you do, you do so well. The world is a better place because you're in it. (couldn't resist the chance to pat your bum too!) I miss you!
L
ticblog said…
I miss you too Lynda.

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