This question occurred to me earlier and I've been wondering ever since. There's a whole bunch of people moving to a different jobs where I'm working and I've been browsing other jobs as well. It's possible this is perfectly reasonable and the place I work now is just a horrid place to work, but I've come upon another possibility: I haven't learned how to settle in and enjoy a workplace.
It's not that hard to believe. I haven't had a really long term job since high school. I've popped in and out of on campus work and temporary summer positions. And for most of the last year I've worked hard continually looking for a full time job, so I'm already in the habit of searching out opportunities. Even in all those years of schooling much of the experience was putting in the time at one class and then excitedly looking at the course catalog to see on to which class I would move. All in all, it does seem that I lack any recent life experience in finding a way to say, "I like where I am now, no hurry in finding something else."
Of course there's nothing wrong with a little ambition and trying to improve one's position in life. It's actually a great virtue, trying to better oneself. I worry that I may be being all to quick to give up a good thing, though. I live very close to where I work and would almost certainly have to give up the short 20 minute walk to work in favor of either buying a car or finding public transportation options. Both of these possibilities are more costly and neither provides the modicum of exercise that I enjoy with walking.
Putting aside these practical considerations, though, I have a greater unease that I'm finding gratitude and satisfaction difficult. Which I shouldn't because I have much for which to be grateful, even in the narrow field of my career. My job went through quickly, allowing me to set myself up in Salt Lake near my beloved. I think I should make more, but then again when is that ever not true and I make enough to live quite confortably and make good progress paying off my debts. I'm providing a service that does help people and hopefully makes others' days just a little better. I get to talk to people from all around the world. While there's plenty to complain about, there's also plenty to appreciate.
It's interesting to consider how we learn to be happy with a job, and moreso how we do so without becoming complacent or stagnant with our position. I look back and I see a life spent working hard to get to the next level and move on to the next thing, and while in many ways I plan to continue doing this, I also want to make sure I can simply enjoy the situation I'm in as long as it's not one in desperate need of change.
