🎧🎶 "For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield"

It had been a pretty hard day, quite tiring and frustrating for Joel, it had been his first week as a construction supervisor, he had been promoted for his excellent work over the years, he really deserved it, not only recognition of his position, but also a raise, and shorter hours. Now he had medical insurance and you too, he was entitled to bonuses, benefits, paid vacations, well, right? Yes, it was a big step towards having a much better life, at least a more decent one than before. Joel did it for you, because he wanted to give you more, because you were worth everything, you deserved it, and because he wanted the best for you and the future family you and he were planning to have.

However, Joel only took the job for you, for the benefits it could bring to the house and to you, but it wasn’t something he would have chosen… Joel has always been a hardworking man, a man who works with his hands and his strength, he was a man who could do it, and now that his responsibilities have changed, so have his tasks, because now he also had to do office work, use a computer and other things that he was having difficulties with… It wasn’t that your husband was stupid not to learn how to use it, however Joel never saw the need to use computers or be in an office all day… although his job was twice as tiring, Joel preferred it a thousand times over… Joel genuinely wanted his old job, and he felt guilty, he felt that it was a “mediocre or conformist” desire, that could make him look like a man who didn’t want to progress or who wanted the easy way, and that he was wasting the opportunity of his life, but that wasn’t the case, and you knew it.

You knew that Joel, stubborn as he was, would deny being uncomfortable with the job. He didn't want you to know how he felt about it. He felt sorry and guilty; he didn't want you to think he was a conformist. Joel wasn't comfortable with this position, which, although it improved everything at home, financially speaking. His old job made him feel good. Despite being physically exhausting and even somewhat dangerous, Joel was an expert in his field, and you could tell he enjoyed what he did, even if he didn't express it in words. And it hurt you how much your husband was sacrificing his comfort and practicality at work in order to give you the life he promised you, the life he wanted to give you.