Happy Labor Day 2011
September 5, 2011 by Lillie
The first Monday in September has been officially designated as Labor Day since 1892. Originally set aside as a day to honor organized labor, it has grown to a day for all workers—union laborers, nonunion workers, entrepreneurs, corporate employees, retail workers, small business owners and employees, and even freelancers—to enjoy a day of relaxation and fun.
This year, unfortunately, many people in the US who would like to be among those workers are unemployed, and the bleak jobs report that just came out shows it will not be easy for them to get back to work. Today, if you have a job, thank God for it and celebrate your blessings. If you among the many looking for work, thank God that you live in a land of opportunity and vow to get back on your feet. Maybe you will update your resume and renew your efforts to find a job. Or maybe you will decide to take charge of your own future—become a freelancer, start a small business, or come up creative new ways to earn a living.
Whatever your employment status, I wish you a joyous and peaceful holiday.
Happy Labor day to you! we here celebrate the international labor day on May 5. I think that most Europeans celebrate it then.
Thanks, Mia.
With all the rain in Pittsburgh and finally getting out of a packed grocery store (no picnics in the rain, so why the crowd, right?), this is a great day to catch up on blog reading, as well as posting on my own blog. Thanks for recognizing everyone who’s currently out of work or struggling to get by, and it’s always great to see encouragement for starting a small business. Let’s keep this country going through ingenuity!
Matt,
Oh, how we would love to have your rain today! We are in the midst of the worst drought in history. Our family farm, like so many others, is facing a shortage of feed for the cattle. We’ve had major expenses with the water well because the water level has dropped so much. We were really hoping to get some rain from the latest hurricane in the Gulf, but unfortunately we didn’t get a drop.
A belated Happy Labor Day Lillie! I took the weekend to give thanks and enjoy some rest. As your post notes,whatever our situation there is always reason to give thanks. We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom to earn income in a variety of ways.
Thank you, Karen. We had a relaxing, thankful day here, also.
Happy Labor day Lillie! In my country this day is 1st may
Thank you, Marius. May seems to be a popular month for Labor Day in many parts of the world. Where are you located?
Our Labour Day celebration was a BBQ here in our town, I got to dish out burgers and dogs for everyone who came by our community centre.
It’s great to meet people and to enjoy the last days of summer around friends.
Barry, Sounds like a worthwhile and fun holiday.
We are with all the labors but we celebrate it in May.First time I have read about the Labor day in September.
Azhar,
Where are you located?
Thank you, Lillie for reminding me to be grateful and to celebrate that I have a job. And I hope you had a wonderful holiday.
Jane,
We had a lovely day. Thank you.
Labo(u)r day is a great time for the unemployed to focus on a new life, instead of just a career change or job change. The jobs lost in the last 4 years will return. But not to the USA. They will be taken up in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 by cheaper workers in China, India and South America. The new jobs for Americans will be as youth sports camp managers, motivational speakers, book writers, coaching or maybe conducting business online. It sometimes takes a forced change to shift people into the careers where they will find true happiness. It was Bill Moyers who said, “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.”
Excellent point, Russell. I have written often about my own big change: after I had a stroke I realized I needed to be doing what I’d always wanted to do and started writing. Without that dramatic impetus to change, I probably would have continued doing what I was doing for many years.
Pretty fun labor day this year for me, just spending time with the family. Eating, chatting and goofing around. I really needed that.
Darin,
A good no-labor day is always good.