I recently posted something on Facebook about a quandary I had. Because I’m in two groups I sometimes have to choose between the two. I have that situation coming up, as Opera San José and Symphony Silicon Valley have a conflict. I posted a little note on Facebook, asking what others were doing. Someone posted a response that implied I was rather fortunate to be in such a predicament. She was certainly right, but what was written caused me to worry a bit.
I’m curious how others deal with this. Is it inappropriate to post that we have work? Does it make others angry? Envious? Sad? Should one never write about work? That seems a bit over the top to me, but I wonder.
Quite some time ago I had seen someone rage against people who wrote at all about their work, saying it was inconsiderate. The writer also said that people who wrote about work were bragging.
I never have viewed it in that way. I’m happy with other musicians have work. I take joy in hearing about what they are up to. I might have a twinge of envy sometimes, but for the most part I let that go. It’s a deliberate choice on my part: I hate envy and jealousy. I rejoice with those who have work. I feel for those who don’t. (“Mourn with those who mourn.”)
But I took my post down. I felt badly that I may have caused hurt to someone else.
Thoughts?
