One of the more uplifting things about the world of work is that there is so much talk about it these days. People are noticing that the business culture and its consumerism, commercialism and many other annying little "isms" does not match our values, our goals, our dreams (aside from dreams advertisers want you to dream). Yet, the private sector, those commercial carpet-bombers, has run amock and they aren't about to slow down. In fact, if there is truth to this global recession, then that means: we all have to work even harder!

Jobs have consumed us. I think it's sad, actually.

We are obligated to work, sure, but what we do on the job and what type of job we do is -- or should be -- more important than the nature of work itself. Howard Stern once said: "Most of us aren't very talented at anything." Those of us who feel obliged to follow a gift are in trouble, as the true, dictatorial workplace -- more often than not -- balls and chains us away from the adults we once dreamed of becoming.