My dad has always proclaimed that when I do something I dislike it will “build character.” This phrase has had a negative connotation to me until recently, when I discovered that my dad was actually correct. Waking up early on hot summer days and mowing grass was the last thing I envisioned doing during my summers, but it has truly developed my character as a whole.
First of all, it requires the discipline of going to bed early and waking up early, a great sacrifice for a teenager like me, who enjoys staying up late whenever possible. If I did not get an adequate amount of sleep, my job performance would suffer and subsequently result in the loss of customers. Being disciplined all summer taught me about the value of commitment. Whether it is for a job, school, or any everyday event, one must be committed to perform his or her best. Without this vital characteristic, one may never reach, or even realize, his individual potential.
After performing manual labor for three years, I have actually come to enjoy it. I can see the fruits of my commitment and strong work ethic. I now find many repetitive procedures to actually be very therapeutic. Raking leaves for example, once a tedious process, actually became a source of relaxation for me. Repeating the same process- rake, rake, put in bag, rake, rake- requires virtually no thinking. This process can take my mind off nearly all of my daily stresses and problems and help me to focus on things that are important to me. Idleness in watching television or playing video games – a common place that people turn to soothe their soul - does not even compare to the great serenity of monotonous manual labor.
