The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Labor Day Should Be A Labor of Love

by Dessa Rodeffer,
Publisher/Editor

1 September 1999

I turned the calendar over to September and read that September 1st was Japan's worst earthquake in 1923 and 57,000 people had died.

Then I read that September 1st was also the day World War II began in 1939.

September 5th, 1975, there was an assassination attempt made on President Gerald Ford.

And, of course, the following day is Labor Day, September 6th, designated to be on the first Monday in September each year.

It is good to remember how we overcome most troubles and that is with hard work, but I feel Labor Day would be best if explained as a Labor Of Love Day.

Labor Day was originally set up to honor all those who labor to make this United States the great nation it is.

Hardworking Americans get to take a break. There is no mail, no banking, no school, and no really great reason that workers can not spend time at their leisure.

What do you think a serious laborer might do on a Labor Day holiday?

I'm guessing it is hard for them to relax. Laborers are usually at one task or the other all the time, and it's hard for them to do anything else. They have created a habit.

I am not saying if it's a bad habit, but it's awful when a person can't relax without feeling a twinge of unrest.

I find when I sit in our yard I notice the weeds need pulled. When I sit to watch TV, I notice newspapers or magazines out of place, or the television needs dusted.

Even at ballgames I notice pop cans thrown about, children that need attention, or an upcoming activity at school that needs addressed.

Where is it you can relax?

The one place I actually feel I can relax is on vacation (away from home and community), or visiting the nursing home.

The nursing home is especially good, because the focus is taken completely off yourself and your tasks (unless you plan it when you have company coming and dinner to fix), and it is put on the life of another individual.

If you have no one to visit in a nursing home, stop in and ask them to direct you to a room of someone who would appreciate a visit. You will be surprised how well you will be received and how soothing for the soul it is.

I feel a Labor Day holiday is needed more than once a year, but let's call it "Care For Others Day." Four times a year would be nice.

On the first day of the 4 seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer, set aside time to visit a nursing home, shut-in, or patient in the hospital. It would be a great way to avoid habits of over-laboring and turn them into a caring day for others who have labored so many years for us.