An analogy that may or may not work

Walking always helps me think clearly. Thursday morning on the way to work I was thinking about what I had just heard on NPR. They were talking about doodling and its relation to boredom. Also, about how the brain functions when bored. The brain doesn't shut down when bored, it moves on to other topics in daydreaming or deep thought. This happens to me all the time, but does that mean I'm usually bored? I can't seem to keep my brain moving in a single direction. Other thoughts and topics are always distracting me.

So anyway, there I was walking to work, enjoying the almost-fog and the calm, 14 degree morning. I was thinking about how I'm often distracted by other thoughts at work. Some of what I do is interesting, while some of it isn't. I began to think that work might be like building a house. You use one or more tools to construct something. Different people use different tools. Each house has a different design.

Currently, I enjoy the tools I'm using, and I'm experienced with them, but I don't appreciate the house itself. When it's finished, I don't stand back to admire it. I use different tools from most of my co-workers, especially my boss, so we don't always appreciate the same things. When they're done putting up the framework and the roof, I'm over here spackling, filling in the holes. And I really like spackling. I'm good at it. Sometimes I get caught up with it and lose track of time. But then I stop and look around at the house I'm working on, and it doesn't interest me.

This is why I think librarianship would be a better project for me. I could use some of the same tools, plus some other ones I like using (helping people, answering questions, promoting knowledge). And I would appreciate the entire structure when it's finished.

Perhaps this is what everyone looks for in a fulfilling job: a task they're capable of, and a product they appreciate and believe in. But I think it's hard to find both things at once.