Walmart Dreams

Reality is your legs ache, your feet get numb. greeters have to greet every single person and if they don't they get "verbal warnings". a person is less likely to shoplift if store personnel has spoken to them. it's loss prevention. Walmart! low wages and no health care for part time workers. they are being boycotted across the country.

I am in leadership in several capacities. I am also 70 years old. What I heard in this excellent article is what I see in so many people that have an allusion as to what the limelight is. The have no comprehension or understanding to commitment and responsibility. Not to sound negative because many people do want to truly be involved. I have used your illustration many times and it has helped people see clearly the difference

Being a Wal-Mart Greeter is a terrible, boring, tedious, awful job. Find a new fantasy.

My dream job is to work at the Toys R Us in Times Square, NYC. To play with the toys and demonstrate, to be in a colorful, fun, and happy place.

My dream job is selecting from all kinds of flowers and greens and making beautiful floral arrangements. No people, just flowers, water, vases and me. Aaahhh!

I had no idea that Wal-Mart greeters were such sought after positions. I was always under the surmise that they only annoyingly ask you to stop and allow them to stick a security sticker over your parcels so that you couldnt try to steal .

to play with puppies all day.

Lori, I just had some major upsets in my business. I am a dance teacher and have owned my own studio for 30 years. The responsibility is usually manageable until something happens out of the ordinary but I wanted a dream job of just being at home and not having to work. Thank you for letting me know I am not alone

When I used to work as a nurse on a busy medical floor we all talked about our dream jobs and toll taker was high up there. No demands, no complaints, no emergencies, benefits. What could be wrong with it? I too fantcize about leaving my family and jsut taking a breather once in a while. no phones to answer, no problems to solve. But I know that precisely those "irritants" or interruptions are what makes life so meaningful. If I wouldn't be as needed, then Hashem would not see a need to keep me here. I am thankful to be able to do so much for so mnay but I do dream about not being quite so available.

I am the opposite of dreaming about being a walmart greeter, when the heat is on I dream of being the next Prime Minister of Israel.

I always did want to be a spraypilot, flying 3 feet off the ground at 140 mph dodging trees, powerlines.....Oh that's right thats what I have done for the past 26 years! Sometimes when the pressure gets badI think of the Walmart job to but I know that I'd be bored out of my mind in about a week! I've always told my kids, figure out what you love to do, do that, you will never go to "work" a day in your life.

HI Lori, Thank you for that! I have a nice job that pays well B"H with good benefits and all B"H. However, when the going gets tough, whether at work or at home with the kids, i dream about studying torah - i dream of sitting with a group of rabbis studying torah all day long...and then one day, being wise enough to teach....i pray every day to hashem to give me just a bit of that dream....i know one day it will happen. thank you and shabbat shalom.

(drum roll) to be a homemaker. I escaped the high pressure, super competetive corporate world. And now I spend my days cooking, cleaning, and playing with my little one.

To actually get to work in the field I went to school and went into debt for and kept a 4.0 despite being homeless with dependents last year. To stop being harassed and either laid off or fired in relation to being Jewish. To know that if this doesn't happen, at least my fellow Jews will believe me, help me, or at least sympathize and let me cry a little before I get back on the horse and try again. But that doesn't happen. Why?

I actually have my fantasy job. I am in Readers' Advisory at my local library. I'm the one you ask when you don't know what to read next. I'm like a personal shopper at Nordstrom's, only for books! As a lifelong reader, this is the best. I am so grateful.

my dream job would be to be a photographer, or a short story writer

I am a nurse in milwaukee, I have always wanted to do. I have challenges that I feel very overwhelmed as to how to care for my client, but I daven that I get the help from above to enable me to help them. I am doing my dream job and love it.

well Lori, i love to listen to you...but this time, i got disappointed...because to work at wallmart greeting people, is not a fantasy to run away from our problem... we all have problems, and the only way to feel good, it s not fantacysing,,,its on the contrary , turn to a torah course, rab Danovitz, and beleive me , you ll fee like a millin dollars after listening to him... by the way Lori, i loved your tape, teaching us, the 10 commandments...wherever i am , specially when i see young kids, i play the game and ask them if they know them...and i teach it to them..thank you.. i love your smile...and i try to talk with a smile on my face

Do you know that Walmart destroys small business. They come into towns and undersell everybody. My dream jpb...to sit with lonely or terrified people. Just sit with them

My dream job is a park ranger in a national park. You get to be outside teaching people who want to be there.

Lori, I understand your desire to be a Wal-Mart greeter and where you're coming from, but honestly, you should look into the company hiring practices and employee treatment done by the company itself. Its negative social impact might just shock you.

WOW, that was NOT what I expected, but what a pleasure to have read..... great story..... My dream job is to be a flight attendant..... Jump on the plane, strap in, take off, pass out a few drinks and land in, oh say, Europe and get a 10 day layover(on the company of course) then get to fly back by way of brazil, madrid, italy, london and paris, but, of course, on MY flights, there is NO responsibility, now passenger getting sick, drinks getting spilled, food not to someones standards, OY, let me stop now!!! Great story Lori, I look forward to the next one....

I fantasize about leaving my husband and kids and work and sunning on a beach in Hawaii with by BFF since freshman year of college (1968!) !

My seminary year (11yrs. ago) was one of the best experiences of my life. It was a time of spiritual growth, independence, maturity and higher self esteem for me. I feel like my Israel year was a fantasy because now I can't believe what life was like b/f my marriage, motherhood and work. Just the fact that I was able to wake up when ever I wanted instead of my child demanding when I should wake up, including my vacation! But, that year in Isarel had a big impact on my life now b/c I learned to take care of my own responsiblities before taking care of others. Also, I learned the more you help others, fulfill your obligations and face challenges, the more accomplish you feel (" I can't believe I was able to take to complete that task", "After all that I made it through that obstacle!"). Again, it is hard not to wish I was back in seminary once in a while, but I have to focus on the present in order to keep my sanity and continue to take care of my responsibilities!

My dream job Lori, is holding and or feeding the babies at the hospital if they would let me. Volunteer even. Just to give the nurses or mothers a break if they needed it.

Personally, I would rather be teaching history through biography. Why? I know history, and have read a significant number of biographies. Beyond parental lineage, birth and death is history. It's interesting and relevant. We can learn from it and grow as people. And it would allow me to get off the treadmill life that I lead right now. More importantly, maybe life's challenges are not there for Hashem to see if we can overcome them by being smarter or working harder -- maybe Hashem places these obstables for us to simply take another path? Maybe we *should* be Wallmart greeters -- or do something else with our lives! Maybe *that's* the message! Thanks for the thought-provoking blog!

When I grow up I want to be just like you Lori! You are my hero! Ruth S.

I live my dream job. I am an art teacher at a middle school. I love art and I love seeing my students learn through what I have taught them. I have gotten letters from parents letting me know how much they appreciate what I have taugt their child and how much better they draw. I leave my job each day feeling fulfilled. I didn't used to feel this way when I was an office worker the first 12 years of my adult life. I used to watch the clock, waiting to go home. But once I became a teacher, that all changed. I love my job. I HAVE my dream job.

my dream job has always been to be the drummer in a symphony orchestra.

I volunteer at a local museum, here in NYC, as a front door greeter. I meet people from all over the world and find the work not only rewarding but interesting. I do not have the pressures of work or small children, but if you're breathing, you have concerns. I brought business problems home with me for 50 some odd years. I always feared retirement and delayed it until I was in my seventies. I now look forward to going to "work" and that front door can be a lot of fun and has its perks. The guy at Walmart gets paid, and if really needs the job, is under the same pressures as other working people. If you're really looking for that dream job you'll have to wait until you've retired.

Seeing this brought tears to my eyes. Lately have felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities. Thanks Lori for getting it all in perspective again. It's all from HaShem and that's where we find our strength. Baruch HaShem!

I want to go out into the woods where the sunshine comes through the trees and be alone with God so I can spill my feelings without anyone listening.

Running a real estate investment company from my home that would convert regular houses to zero energy homes and then rent and subsequently rent-to-own them to responsible people who have lost their homes due to external forces. Also, integrated with the housing "project" two apprenticeship programs one to teach furniture carpentry and one to teach sewing; the physical products of the apprenticeship programs could be given to those who are trying to reestablish their lives in the houses.

I was a police officer for 13 years on the streets everyday dealing with the lowest of the low, mental, domestic, problems etc. I always thought I can't wait till I don't have to make these life altering decisions any more. After I retired I thought you know flowers. The flowers don't talk back to you, they smell nice, they are pretty. So I did flower deliveries for a few years. For the most part people were happy to receive the flowers, but I still got my share of complainers. I am sure the Walmart greeters do too.

I know of a nice older Jewish gentleman who is a greeter at a Walmart in upstate NY. I have enjoyed watching him inter-act with children as they either enter or leave past his post. This fellow really appears to enjoy his position and those who make contact with him appear to react with joy also. As for me....my fantasy job has always been to drive a fire engine. I don't like fires but have always been a fire buff with my special interest being fire engines.

I must confess that when I dream, I dream big!!! So my dream job is to be the ambassador of my country in Israel and the first thing I would do is to move the embassy to Jerusalem. Told you!!! Big dreams :)))

As I was listening I found myself smiling from ear to ear. When my husbands coming home in a few minutes, his supper still has to happen, and both kids are crying and kvetching, when I was teaching and one of those impossible IEP's or lesson plans were due the next day and it was already 1am, I would find myself frantically trying to figure out what job does not require me to think, and interact with people, and make dealines. But then I stop myself and acknowledge that there really is no such job, that even a job descrip[tion that includes numbers, and computers and filing data also has its pressures and deadlines. and i'd anyday rather work with my kids, my students, and even those incorrigible IEP's than numbers and a computer. and I try to smile, recognize that Hashem just sent me a personalized little 'test' and try to make him proud. thanks Lori for making my day.

Hi, My dream job since I was a kid was to drive NYC subway trains. I suppose that the fascination would last for, perhaps, one week if I actually DID that job but it sounds so cool to steer the trains that snake under the great city. The trains that bring so many people to work, home, on dates, to visit friends, to see the sites, etc., etc. Thanks for doing your day job so well, Lori!

when the going gets tough and i have one child yelling in one ear and the baby just wont go down to sleep, my husband still waiting to be fed and the house work still not finished i go back to my seminar year in the old city. my one year to myself, my one year where i got to learn torah all year long and work on my self thats where i go. no dream job just that one year. baruch hashem i have been blessed with my kids and my husband but every now and then i go back to that year.

For ME, it's baking! When I'm stressed, and lately, that's been more often than not, I BAKE!! Cookies, cakes, muffins, cheesecakes, kugel, pies...some healthy options too! I've always loved to bake. I find comfort in it by knowing that it'll bring people pleasure, or a smile...like a Wal Mart greeter.

To all you dreamers, just remember that the Greeter is also the first person the customers run to with their complaints, and not all of them are polite when complaining...

Usually, we as humans may never really get to be the person who we want to be. For those who are employed by a large corporation, they may feel it is too stressful and would dream of opting for a simpler job. Since my job is in the parks and recreational field, many people practically envy what I do (even though it is not much of a "big" salary). I, in particular, would love to climb the ladder in the parks and recreational field or anything related to tourism such as hospitality and hotels for a more secure and permanent job. However, the job market isn't giving a whole lot of job growth given the state of our economic recession for the past 2 years.