I love working in tech, even on my hardest days.

Work is hard. Stakeholders can be tough. Resources are limited but I'm fortunate enough to love what I do for a living. Sometimes we get caught up in feeling so sorry for ourselves about how hard we have it that we forget to step back and appreciate how fortunate we are to work in tech. This is a very working class mindset, but I can't help it. That's how I grew up.

My dad worked at the same factory for nearly 30 years after we moved to the UK - I was 5 years old. Every day, he would get up at 3am, get dressed and go to work as a machine minder. Looking back, I don't once remember hearing him complaining about work. I wish he had as I'm sure he had hard days, but he never mentioned them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that burying your feelings is healthy either, but my dad's background meant that he really appreciated having a job and he was grateful for what he had. I haven't had a particularly hard life so when I need balance I think about how hard my parents had it and remind myself that things could be worse.

This is not my way of excusing all the things that are wrong in tech such as lack of diversity, gender pay gaps, discrimination, flexible working for parents etc.. nor is this my way of excusing the government and society because of the cost of living crisis, younger people not being able to get onto the property ladder etc... those problems exist regardless of the industry you're in. I'm just merely appreciating the fact that I love working in tech despite all of those things.

I feel like this post is going to get me some stick so I'll just clarify that there is nothing wrong with feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or even like you're struggling, I go through those emotions by lunchtime and no you don't have to appreciate all the shit you have to deal with at work. I'm just saying that I love working in tech, even on my hardest days.

Peace and love.