EDITORIAL – Today, say thanks to yourself for the work you do

Posted on September 7, 2026 in Editorials, Rothenburger // 0 Comments

(Image: Mel Rothenburger file photo)

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

IT’S LABOUR DAY, a time to consider the contributions of those who build our country day by day. Nine-to-fivers, professionals, labourers, artisans, office workers — they all do their part, in their own way.

Some jobs are dangerous, some are boring. Some are harder and dirtier than others. We land on jobs for various reasons: a high school counsellor recommended a certain line of work. Or we had a lifelong ambition to work in a certain field. Or we needed to put food on the table and a particular job was available.

Maybe it’s about the money. We like life’s comforts, so we pick a line of work that pays us well.

More important than money is feeling valued, and providing value. Sadly, a lot of people, maybe even most, don’t really like what they work at. The thing they do like is getting to the end of the work day, punching out and going home or maybe volunteering at a community event or relaxing in the back yard with the BBQ, or some other form of recreation.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s admirable. They live a full life, contribute to their community and do necessary stuff but they aren’t the luckiest among us.

The luckiest people in the world are those who have a job they love doing. They wake up in the morning anxious to get to it. At the end of the day, they don’t think they’ve accomplished quite enough, and want to stay to do more.

But whichever category we fall under, everyone is important. Today is a day to relax, and to say thanks to ourselves for all we do.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, writes for the Kamloops Chronicle and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and was a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.