When society was framed around agriculture, people experienced the value of chores.
Gather the eggs. Feed the livestock. Plant the seed. Not just once in a while. Consistently.
Every day there was some chore that needed completing.
As we become more disconnected from engaging with the land, other animals, and our natural world, we also are losing the experience of chores.
Sure, chores have always been viewed as boring. But, in previous eras, they were understood to be essential. If we didn’t do the chores, we didn’t eat. We didn’t make money. We didn’t survive.
Today, chores are seen as activities that are not only boring, but also non-essential. We now view chores as mostly “busy work,” as opposed to “real work.”
Respond to the emails. File the contact reports. Update the major donor portfolio. Prepare the monthly e-newsletter for distribution. Make the calendar year end donor calls.
It’s easy to complain about our “chores.”
Just don’t forget that, in most instances, completing them consistently is still essential.