I have learned to see a job as a means to an end.

I think the problem is we as Americans have the tendency to define ourselves by our work. "What do you do for a living" is usually the question that gets asked after "Are you single or married?" and "do you have kids?" Sometimes I swear people have NOTHING BETTER to talk about! But whatever...

When we are in jobs we dislike, we see that defining who we are when we shouldn't. Even if I was a housekeeper and cleaned icky houses I would not allow my job to define me. If people asked me who I was, I'd say "I'm an outdoorsy person who knows a tad too much about Star trek." I prefer to define myself by my qualities, interests, and outlook on life.

I have a poor view of the work world too, and it's rough to know you spend 40 hours of your week at work, with those same people doing similar tasks. But it's only 40 hours and there is plenty of time outside of work to be who you want to be, and enjoy the things you want to enjoy if you make the effort. Of course, easier said than done if your job makes you miserable. BTDT, which is why I'm hoping to find an okay job where I don't feel like jumping off a bridge and I can leave work at work when it's the end of my day.