Heard On The Radio Today, Family or Career?

I was listening to a radio show this morning and one of the guests said, “Why should I have to make the decision that family is more important than my career?”

The host understood the implications of that and followed with: “I think we can all agree family should be the most important thing in all our lives.”

She acted like he hadn't spoken. She had been raised in a family where career and school were more important than family and now she was a single-mom who wanted success in a very competitive career field, no matter what it meant to life at home.

They both became uncomfortable, and it was uncomfortable to listen to.

But it brought up an even bigger, broader point. What do we value, and how do we judge ourselves?

Is it by how much money we make? Our job title or job satisfaction? Is it all “me” centered?

Or is it in our faith, our family, our friends, our community?

There is a disconnect that has evolved over the last 70 years, really since WWII, where progress has led to fractured families and communities, meism, and a breakdown of things that matter.

This was a women who is smart and thoughtful. But “satisfaction” to her was a job that “kicks butt”. And it’s not just a women thing, it’s a people thing, a man thing. Is our value only in our titles and our bank account? If so, what does that mean and what will be the consequences?