Curiously, a survey revealed that the most “meaningful” jobs are some less glamorous roles that demand personal engagement and have mediocre pay disproportionate to the difficulty experienced – particularly clergy, military, social work, and librarian work. Dan Bloom suggests that people find these jobs meaningful because the people in them have willingly embraced suffering. Struggle is integral to our sense of meaning, and people in these lines of work have figured out that the struggle and suffering they experience today make for a more satisfying tomorrow. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here