The Well of Work

February 04, 2020 Jhaye-Q Baptiste 0 Comments

Imagine, being in an industry that literally puts sweetness in the world. Worker bee performing its purpose.

"Work is love made visible." -- Kalil Gibran

THERE ARE some quotes I feel I can never use too many times. The one above by Kalil Gibran, taken from his lyric book, The Prophet, is just such a one. It is unbelievably beautiful a concept; but, sadly, not one everyone can claim to abide.
     I was recently asked, "What is productivity?" 
     "Being able to make a living doing what you really love, that also puts goodness into the world in some large or little way." I mean for real, right; not just because we claim so to justify some questionable acts or out-and-out reprehensible pastimes.
     Productivity is also -- truly and deeply -- practicing the attitude: 

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well." 

     So whoever does decent work, however "high" or "humble," with a good will and earnest dedication is full-on being productive.

Sometimes sleeping on the job can be just plain cute. Plant seller snoozing in between selling times. ALL PHOTOS BY JHAYE-Q

     In this, my sort of photo ode to work in the "earlies" of this new year 2020, I want to remind each of us that the myriad honest day's works performed by people all over the world, and in our own communities, redound to all our benefit. So whose labour can we look down upon?
     Certainly you would not prefer to perform your own brain surgery or heart transplant. But I'd bet money that you'd equally not want to collect your own garbage; serve your own fancy restaurant meal; change your own carburetor, or teach your own kids Algebra.

While some make sweet or get to sleep sweetly on their jobs, others are up at the crack of dawn to deal in the not so sweet smelling. Trinidad and Tobago "sanitation engineers" in the wee hours of Christmas morning 2019.

     None of us can do everything that needs doing. Not one of us can do even a lot of things that need doing. Thus, let us appreciate and respect the necessary duties of others. Let us sometimes spare a thought to wonder what would happen if there were no persons to do this or that of what we can't do ourselves.

     Shine on

Used to be the term "working girls" would bring something else to mind. Here, two very different examples of young working women heading off to their daily bread duties at early o'clock in the morning.

Maybe not faster than a speeding bullet, but his cutlass was fast enough, as this young man chopped up green mangoes to sell for cooking, at the Tunapuna market.

Trinis of both sexes (and otherwise) love nice, shiny things, even if it's only "roll-gol" (false gold). Vendors like this woman can make a fair amount of REAL cash, especially at holiday times.

Child labour is a different kettle of fish from a holiday-time-help-out for some fast, small cash. Many locals cite it as their introduction to the responsibilities of work and doing service.

I walk these streets, not with a "loaded six-string on my back," but a borrowed camera, and old, cracked screen smart phone handy to whip out of my handbag. Still doing the dedicated roving reporter thing, though it brings no salary in. But hey, presto! I am happy to do this work that, yes, literally makes my love for my country visible. 😍