Contemplating the truths of life and suffering
By Jessica Berget, Staff Writer
For some, working five days a week, making frappuccinos eight hours a day for $10.85 an hour sounds like a nightmare, but for many others, it’s a cruel reality. When you work for minimum-wage and can barely afford food, it’s hard not to be existential. Unless you’re about to abolish the wage labour system and overthrow capitalism (good luck, comrade), minimum-wage jobs are here to stay. But worry not, fellow proletarians! You are not suffering alone. We here at the Other Press know how you feel, and we are here to satisfy your existential dread with a list of thoughts you’ve probably had working at your minimum-wage jobs. So don’t worry, babe, we’ve got you.
- Why does humankind suffer?
This is the point when you come to terms with the fact that we are all different types of consciousness trapped inside of our very own flesh prisons, living on a floating rock, hurtling through space. But then you snap back to reality and realize the guy in front of you has been complaining about the wait time for his coffee for 10 minutes and you haven’t listened to a single word he said. You tell him that life is swift and meaningless, and that time is a social construct. He demands to see the manager.
- God has abandoned us all.
You were probably thinking this when you ran out of ice in the middle of a rush on a day your workplace was terribly understaffed. But not even ice can soothe the burn of the bourgeoisie exploiting your labour for profit. You wonder, “When will my suffering end?” Short answer: When your shift ends in four hours. Long answer: Never.
- How could this happen to me?
Unless you were singing lyrics from the most popular Simple Plan song, you were probably thinking this when you got called into work on your only day off. You try to tell your supervisor that you have too much homework to do and can’t come in, but they entice you with the promise of free food. They always know how to get you. Who needs good grades when you have some extra money, right?
- Why me?
This is usually what you are thinking when you remember that all life is suffering and suffering is inevitable, as it is part of the human condition. Or when that creepy old guy you hate serving walks in. You just know he is going to make you help him with his Tinder account again.
- I am disillusioned with the human experience.
Whether it’s because you have been working for 5 hours without a break or because a group of people walked in 10 minutes before closing, you are probably pretty pissed right now. But then you remember it’s payday today, and it almost makes it all worthwhile.
