Every Paycheque is a Bonus

Today, I'm feeling a little cow-handed about this whole resume updating thing.

Even though I regularly update my resume -- that is, after each writing gig -- last month I decided to revamp my CV.

When I opened a Word doc containing my entire work history, I enjoyed a meandering detour along memory lane and couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of my work experience.

There was my solitary retail experience in women's clothing - Ricki's, circa 1984, my summer fling with waitressing, rather I had a carhop gig at A&W carhop in 1981; and there was a horrific summer job in 1977 working for my aunt's husband.

Although the thought of these jobs made me chuckle, in part because they were far from the worst jobs I've held, I was reminded of a recent survey that claimed a large percentage of individuals would work entertainment industry, if possible. I've worked in the film/tv industry; it's not all it's cracked up to be. To those folks, I'd say, keep hold of that job you've got. If it pays the bills, you're already ahead of the game.

As for me, I'm packing it in.

In 1996, in a Nobel lecture, poet Wislawa Szymborska said, "Most of the Earth's inhabitants work to get by. They work because they have to." Most of us, she assured her audience, do not choose our jobs out of passion, but from the circumstances of our lives.

In the March 2008 issue of "O" The Oprah Magazine, Oprah wrote "If you can get paid for doing what you love, every paycheck is a bonus."

I agree. I like to derive a sense of satisfaction, of accomplishment, of a job well-done from my 9-5 just as I do from my freelance and volunteer work.

What about you? Wislawa, or Oprah? Which type of job do you have?