The reporter was in the Zoo. I turned up the radio as I grumpily cleaned up after dinner. 

As always, I was listening to the radio. The radio is a constant in my life - in the kitchen, in the car, in my bedroom. The hum of background talk and music soothes me. My young adults do not understand this at all but maybe that’s a generation thing.

I turned up the volume when I heard the reporter was in the zoo, chatting to the keeper in charge of Sea Lion Cove. The zookeeper’s enthusiasm was infectious. I found myself smiling along as she told us about the positive reinforcement training programme they have for the sea lions. How the sea lions get rewarded with fish after a health check. How the sea lions feel challenged and engaged with this programme. The keeper chatted about the adorable sea lion pups and described the joy of feeding time at Sea Lion Cove and what a huge attraction it is for visitors. How children and adults alike adore the sea lions’ playful exuberance when fish is on the menu. 

And then she said: ‘I have the best job in the world.’

They moved onto the elephants but I was stuck on that simple but powerful phrase: ’I have the best job in the world’. It was said matter-of-factly with a smile. It was so incredibly sincere that I actually felt emotional. Not the best paid job. Not the most glamorous job. Not the ego ‘look at me’ job. The best job because it brings so much joy to her, to others and of course to the sea lions…

It’s a wonderful thing to be able to say, isn’t it? The simplicity of that statement. I love my job. No ifs, buts or maybes. How heartwarming is that?

Don’t get me wrong - I like my job. It’s creative. It’s deadline driven. It’s stressful but not in a life and death sorta way. It’s freelance and I’m self-employed so that brings its own bundle of practical anxiety. But the bonus is I was able to work my hours around my children when they were younger. How lucky was I. Especially as a solo parent. 

But do I love my job? I do and I don’t. I love working as a creative person but I feel frustrated. I want to achieve more, accomplish more. Truth is: I want to shine a little more. But life gets in the way of ambition and suddenly we’re older and not so much wiser and opportunities have passed us by or so it feels.

Perhaps I am overthinking (Moi? Surely not!) about my career these days. I am longing for a bigger sense of achievement but also yearning for an inner contentment. 

Or perhaps there are times when we all wish life was a little simpler and we could feed fish to the pups at Sea Lion Cove and say: ‘I have the best job in the world’?

Salt Water Mum

A Moodscope member