Pay the Price

This week I measured the gate to get an estimate on how much it would cost me on only the steel material. I would roughly need 60 feet of 11 gauge 1.5” square steel tubing to build the frame. Costing $21.76 each for a 12-foot piece, I would spend approximately $110 on just the frame I would be welding. I did not price all other materials besides a few 2 7/8 posts because I will be utilizing a post from the old fence. Let me just say that I was surprised at how low the cost would be for the frame, and that is going off prices online. It very well could cost more considering the price of anything these days. Thinking about the price of the gate overall seems less of a surprise to me. I know when you add up all material, it quickly can add to your bill and before you know it you have yourself a gate hundreds of dollars over budget.

The only relation I could see between welding and my occupational well-being is if welding was a chosen occupation that I participated in religiously and did so on the fact that it brought me more joy than other occupations do. I would say at this point because it can be so difficult to find time to get to the shop, welding has not been a contributor to my well-being. It has hindered my ability to do a project independently because I am relying on others to provide me with the space, time, material, and equipment necessary to complete projects within the occupation. When I am engaging in the occupation and seeing the outcomes of my efforts, it boosts my confidence and shows me my capabilities. My self-perception facilitates my occupational well-being when participating in welding.

The seven occupational needs connected to occupational well-being relate to my occupation accordingly:

1.       Accomplishment: When I feel accomplished in my efforts to trying to do new things within my occupation it makes me feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself, the occupation of welding has a better occupational outcome and I have a better sense of well-being. Accomplishment facilitates the want and drive to do better, be better, and work harder next time.

2.       Affirmation: When I get the affirmation that I am doing well within my occupation it makes me seek enjoyment out of the occupation more. When I enjoy the occupation, my sense of occupational well-being increases. Affirmation facilitates and reaffirms my abilities to do things that are hard.

3.       Agency: Agency can either facilitate or hinder my occupation. Who is involved with my occupation can change the enjoyment status. Where I practice the occupation can change how it influences my ability to engage in my occupation mindfully. When I engage in my occupation is not always my decision. Why I am engaging in this occupation is not a choice of mine, but what I chose to do as a new occupation is. So many different factors of agency play a role in how I perceive my occupation and occupational well-being.

4.       Coherence: Welding teaches me many different things and reminds me of others. As I learn about welding, I learn about myself. The development and meaning of this occupation create meaning within my life. These occupational experiences are what defines who I am, what I desire, and what my intentions are.

5.       Companionship: Welding for me is a co-occupation. It is a co-occupation because I need the skills and expertise of another individual. I need the space, materials, and knowledge provided by another to be successful. Without co-occupation I would be unable to engage in the occupation, and without occupational participation, there is no occupational well-being.

6.       Pleasure: Because I have not welded anything major, the sense of pleasure has yet to arise. I can certainly see a sense of enjoyment in this occupation, but for now my frustration is in the progress of my transition from one occupation to another thinking I would have reliable sources. Because I do not have much pleasure within this occupation now, does not mean it will not come with time and facilitate a good sense of occupational well-being later.

7.       Renewal: The occupation of welding would hinder my ability to harness a sense of renewal only because I chose an occupation that had the most available resources to myself at the time. I did not choose the occupation because it would bring me peace. I did not choose the occupation because it would bring me clarity, and I did not choose the occupation because it would be re-energizing. Welding unfortunately does not contribute to this need connected to occupational well-being.