A Celebration of Work

Labor Day is upon us, and amidst all the parades, festivals and talk of college football, this national day of observance gives us an opportunity to think about the varied and grand a sundry of workers in our midst. Many reliable and dependable people who show up each day to work deserve to be celebrated. My reflection on honoring those variety of workers led me to a renewed appreciation for my dad and all like him.  

One of my dad’s greatest gifts was his work ethic. He was no stranger to doing whatever he needed to do to provide for his family. For years, my dad worked as a printer for McCall’s Magazine which brought my family to Dayton, Ohio. I remember him working the night shift and coming home in the morning with ink-stained fingernails as I was leaving for school. After being laid off and with money remaining tight, no job was beneath him. My dad worked for a trucking company unloading freight at the expense of his back, and then had both donut and orange juice delivery routes. Eventually, my dad ended up working as a local municipal building inspector where he left his signature mark of friendliness and dependability. He never complained about working any job, or having multiple jobs for that matter. To this day, when my siblings and I reminisce about my dad, we always celebrate his selfless example of hard work.

I can’t help but think Labor Day is about commending all workers. Recently I took my grandson to Chipotle for lunch and I overheard the manager talking about which employees were going to “open” and “close” the next day.  Those who work in the restaurant industry work hard. My previous, long-ago tenure as a restaurant server has instilled a forever appreciation for those who take our food orders. Talk about a job that requires multi-tasking; so that this person wants her burger well done while that person wants extra crispy fries.  And then there are health care workers, construction workers and repair technicians who build and repair many facets of our lives.  

Labor Day celebrates teachers who work tirelessly so their students can flourish and grow. I think about welders and those who stock grocery shelves. And what about those who load and unload luggage from the belly of an airplane. There are many workers who without their expertise would leave us in a bind. Anyone whose experienced lost luggage knows just what I mean.

I wish I would have thanked my dad for his perseverance in doing what he needed to do in order to secure an income for our family. In addition, I wish I would have told my mom how I admired her courage in re-entering the job market after years of raising children. She traded working from home as an Avon door-to-door salesperson to accepting a job at the receptionist desk in a doctor’s office. I know for sure how she must have brightened the day of so many patients by her bright smile and welcoming greetings. Like so many, my parents did what they had to do.

Perhaps for the first time in a long time, I plan to mark this Labor Day by thinking of all those workers who are doing what they need to do in order to provide for themselves and their families. Never underestimate the impact anyone can have in the world beyond their reach by simply by bringing their best selves to whatever it is they do. Consider today’s message a big thank you to all who work to make our world go around. It’s a pretty remarkable Labor Day indeed.