The rewards of virtue

I am taking a moment to expand on the rewards of virtue. At the moment I am proofreading yet again a paper which has been proofread four times the past 48 hours, and feel inordinately proud that I will be done before evening. Who would have guessed. The past six months, possibly longer have been somewhat colored by the fact that there is work to do, which should have been executed yesterday, and which - lo and behold - is fun, at least 50 % of the time. In my book, 50 % of the time is pretty damn good.
 
The perks that come with hard work.
 
1) The incredible feeling of a job well done.
Ok, so you have a guilt trip most of the time. But, occasionally, you know, the boss is happy, and you are happy, and the sun is shining, and you proved to yourself that you could do it.
 
2) Awe, patience and admiration from the less sturdy.
My friends are incredible. Please come on out to play! We'll bring the food. The beer. The laughs. I've been neglecting people without feeling guilty - everyone knows the reason why. Ok,  so I lost my temper. I work 14 hour days, ok?
 
3) No time to obsess.
This is great. Having real problems, and of a kind that can be solved just by  - hard work - makes all those who am I what am I doing here and WHY-problems so insignificant. I stopped caring about how I look some way back, and what do you know? Every other man on bicycle looks me over when we swish past each other. I could care less, I assure you.
 
Oh shit!! I have to mail the minutes from the national annual meeting too. No rest for the wicked.