Back to the Mines: Why Do We Stay in Bad Jobs?

The drama of the 33 Chilean miners trapped last fall was riveting.

Imagine the moment when the last battery pack went dead, draining the last remnants of hope. Desperation, anguish and anxiety hung in the dank air. 

It took more than two weeks, but rescuers punched a small hole into the cavern, and the men were eventually pulled out one-by-one.

One miner, who at 63 was the eldest of the survivors, passed on this bit of wisdom to his grandchildren:

“Never go into a mine,” he said. “Study another profession.”

Predictably, many of the miners have found other lines of work. Some have gone back into the industry, driving trucks, working in administration or supervision.

But some have gone right back, working underground in other mines.

If it were me, I would never enter a mine again. In fact, I would sleep with the light on the rest of my days. I would change all my 40-watt bulbs out to 100-watt torches. I would move to Ecuador and put my house on a swivel that that could always face the sun as it moved across the sky.

And I would never enter a mine. But then again . . .

Read the rest of this post over at the High Calling today, where I ask the question, “Why do we work in bad jobs?

Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
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