A phenomenon has taken over my office, and countless others nationwide. Pulled by the human need for companionship people are coupling off into platonic relationships that are deep, meaningful and highly emotionally-laden. These pairs can send messages to each other across conference tables and know when the other just. needs. space. The have fights and inside jokes that are exclusive to their intimate relationship; they know how the other takes his/her coffee. They are Work Spouses.
The Work Spouse does not follow traditional lines of relationships; there are no age limits, similar levels of physical attractiveness or gender specifications in these pairs. There is only a shared sense of professional lifestyle and, often, shared dedication to one's job.
My office mate is in such a relationship. She and her Work Spouse would certainly not gravitate to each other in a bar; they probably wouldn't even go to the same bars. But when it comes to work, they have several daily check-ins. They ensure that the other is on board with a message before it gets delivered to anyone outside of the relationship. More often than not, they see the other first thing in the morning and pop-in to wish each other "Good Night" before they leave at night.
I am not in such a relationship, the closest I've been was during my first year of teaching. My Work Spouse was your classic crazy English teacher who wanted nothing but commiseration and a place to deposit misbehaving children. I was a novice in a Strange, Strange land with a need for any kind of solace. Thus, our relationship was dysfunctional, greatly based upon opportunism. After two long years, I left my 6th grade World Cultures post; our Work Spouse break-up followed. We left on good terms, however, and I was free to pursue a better connection. Since then, however, I've bumped from place to place so often that I've not the chance to develop such a relationship. In the event that you, dear reader, and I ever work together and are up for the job- I take my coffee iced, no sugar with soy milk.
No comments:
Post a Comment