I have cited Freud’s “love and work” as the key to happiness (I am most days speaking speculatively here, although I definitely have my moments), but it occurs to me he neglected a key element in a life well lived: rest. Or, perhaps I could use the work re-creation, that process by means of which you recover from your work, such that you can again approach it creatively, with engagement, with passion, with life.
Now, for some people their life IS their work. Even beyond the so-called “workaholic” there are people who find their meaning in their work. To my mind, though, it is important not to be too attached to anything.
Take as an example Edison. He would work until he was tired–day or night–then sleep, forgetting completely about what had until them preoccupied him. I think this is healthy. He loved what he did, but he took breaks from it, and when he did he did it COMPLETELY.
An interesting example is Albert Schweitzer, who seems to have been the Mother Theresa of his day, although of course in all visible ways he was much more gifted. He only slept some 2 hours a night. He would practice medicine all day, then switch–completely and fully and with seemingly no gaps–to one of his other passions: theology, philosophy, or music. His rest came from moving from one perceptual work domain to another.
Some time ago, listening to a course on Jewish history, the professor made the point that if we take the 7th day, that of rest, seriously, then it logically follows that the other 6 days are days of WORK. And how do Jews rest on the Sabbath? Through prayer, family time, and worship. Through community and communion.
It seems to me one could perhaps judge someones character equally by what they choose to do for a living–and how committed they are to doing it well–and by how they choose to relax. If, as in the stereotype for executives, it is through golf, drinking and weird sex, then that is all we need to know about their characters, isn’t it? And if it is through charity, self improvement, or even just sleep, that says something too.
Few meandering thoughts.