Why Are Tradesmen So Happy?

I think it’s simple. The work is meaningful and it feels good to make something. Productivity is the key to happiness.

I’ve had numerous jobs throughout my life. Besides my current profession which is great, my next favorite job was the most demanding one. I worked in maintenance for low end apartments. I was basically a small scale electrician, plumber and carpenter. Do you know how good it feels to unclog a random turd from a strangers toilet? Well for me it felt damn good. How about fix someones air conditioning on a 100 degree day. Believe me, you are the hero.

How about the most fun I’ve ever had? Well for me it was basic training in the Army. And what did that have in common with a trade? Meaningful work or a higher purpose and definite productivity. Going from 20 to 90 pushups in two minutes felt great.

Meaningful labor/productivity is the key to happiness in my eyes.

How I Keep Going

By logging off social media and focusing on my own photos. Playing a game with myself. How can I take more keepers? What can I do next time to improve the photo? Studying my own work. Not the masters or contemporaries. Shooting so much that discouragement isn’t something that affects me. Imposter syndrome is nonexistent. Because in my eyes, I’m the only one doing it because I’m blissfully ignorant of the work around me.