“What are your days worth?”

This is a question I was asked not too long ago in the context of a professional work opportunity. The person was asking it in terms of financial compensation.

I took the question to be so much more, as I immediately thought of Goethe and his “nothing is worth more than this day” quote.

Nothing is worth more

My answer to the above question, at the time, was something nicely evasive (I don’t talk money without an offer 😉). But as I walked home, I began thinking on what my days are really worth to me.

I’ve been gainfully unemployed for almost a year now. This was not a conscious decision on my part; more subconscious / ‘the world had other plans for me’ type of situation.

A year ago I was toiling on a project requiring me to always have my guard up. I was making a good money, but it was exhausting spending so much time in a defensive stance.

At that point my days were worth a lot financially but psychologically? Not very much. I was just getting through the days. An entry on a timesheet exacted out to a monetary reward, that was it.

Today, my days are worth so much more.

I stress less about money now when I have minimal income than when I had ample extra. Seems odd, right?

It’s not that I have some divine faith everything will work out. I’m a pragmatist.

I do, however, feel each day is a new achievement building towards something good, rather than just being something I must suffer through for someone else’s specific end.

Goethe’s full quote is: “Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach.”

Last year, I was reliving every yesterday as a prediction of the each tomorrow. This year, I feel like each day is back within my control, to make it how I choose it to be.

What are my days worth? I can’t even begin to possibly comprehend. 😊