RE: Is your job a walk in the park?
I'm right there with you. My job is little more than a means to an end. It pays my bills, but it doesn't define me. I don't think I could take a job doing nothing all day though. Every now and then that happens any way, and it's the longest 8 hours of my life. I think it's something as Americans we just accept though. We do our daily grind through the work week as long as it funds the meager bit of respite that keeps us going. I'm sure if I had a family to provide for, no job would be beneath me if it meant keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. That alone I think would motivate me enough.
This post reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons when Mr. Burns hangs a plaque above Homer's workstation. It read "Don't forget, you're here forever." By the end of the episode he covers the text with pictures of baby Maggie so that it spells, "Do it for her." Many of our daily jobs can grind us down to a nub, but if there's enough sense of purpose behind the drudgery, carrying on isn't so bad.
I've seen a screenshot of that scene around the internet. It does echo a lot of how I feel.
I think there are drawbacks to a job you are passionate about, so I try to focus on the positives in my own situation (in spite of my internet rants). For instance, a lot of people who love what they do are not making all that much money to do it (artists, craftsmen, teachers). Then there are those who do make a ton of money but have a terrible work/life balance (doctors, lawyers, celebrities, athletes). When you love what you do you can lose yourself in your work, which is a wonderful thing, but it can come at the expense of something else, like a relationship or a missed opportunity.
Silver linings! Thanks for the feedback and for sharing your thoughts!