Do you like your job? I do. And it makes a big difference in my level of personal happiness.
More on the Happy Jobs study from the University of Chicago. Here are the top 5 "Happiest Jobs."
What do you think?
5) Special Education Teachers
I get this one. The people who do this job LOVE it. They tend to be patient and caring. They get low to average pay and varying amounts of respect. But they LOVE it. A really hard job that some are called to and find happiness in.
4) Architects
The architects I know are tired. They started out as architects because of a love for buildings and creativity. The longer they are in it, they find more and more frustration with people, budgets, and zoning laws and building codes, and less and less actual creativity. Surprising that they are so happy to me.
3) Travel Agents and Ticket Agents
Now this one is odd. Travel agents DO seem to have a lot of fun, but their business appears to be ever-shrinking since most of us just use the Internet now. Ticket agents at the airport get battered by frustrated customers all day every day. SO I guess the happiness comes with the travel agents who have found a way to earn a living helping people have fun and find creative places to travel to. That would make me happy too.
2) Firefighters
My firefighter friends are an even-keeled bunch. Low key, unflappable, and good senses of humor. They work for low pay and high respect. They take great risks but also have lots of days with little to do. A unique breed, but evidently a happy one.
1) Clergy
More than 80% of clergy report being happy. This one shocked me. I meet a lot of clergy who, like architects, started off with great joy and vigor to love God and help people. But low pay, low respect, and long hours have worn them down. Interestingly, it does vary by group - Catholic priests are different from mainline Protestant clergy who are very different from evangelical clergy. 3 very different groups - some much happier than others.


Also, Our Clergy leaders need our support . These trying economic times our Clergy are called upon for extra support roles dealing with their parishoner's challenges . Please know our Clergy are also experiencing strong ecomomic challenges.
Most church budgets are short and forecasts for the next year or 2 will also be going backwards. Please give your Clergy support & Prayers and let them know how much they are appreciated.
World's smallest violin playing just for clerics:
Truth is, churches spend millions on lavish buildings, for political campaigning (for example recently against marriage equality in California) or to teach St. Lucians about the glories of abstinence. So what if they have to pull the belt a bit tighter during a recession like the rest of us?
I don't know him personally but on the opposite end of "values" scale Dennis Hof seems to be pretty happy in his job, especially since he gets to sample his own "merchandise". It's like putting a kid in charge of a candy/toy store for Christ's sake!
I was shocked! I know a lot of people in ministry, most are not very happy. It's sad but true - most go in energetic and idealistic - but between pressures of the congregation and retarded staff and denominational bureaucracy it just beats it out of them
Classic. Hilarious!
But I bet they only take cash!