Functionally Dysfunctional

Of all the posts that I started, but didn't post, this is the one that has been nagging at me the most.  Maybe it's the fact that its a semi feel good post and sometimes, I just have to post one of these.


A week or two ago, one of my coworkers said to me one morning, "If you don't like the people that you work with, then maybe it's time for you to find another job.  You will spend more time with them than anyone else, including your significant other."


Wow!  He couldn't be more right.  We spend about 45 hours a week at work, whether we like it or not and in order to get through the week, we have to deal with each other.  These are the people who often see almost every side of you and at the end of the day, become like a family.  You may fight it with all your might, but it's true.  I speak my first words of the day to them, vent my frustrations, swap shortened versions of stories, laugh with them.  These people have seen me knocked out in the break room when I am so tired that I can't keep my eyes open during lunch.  They are the ones who have to deal with me BEFORE I have any food or caffeine in my system.  Brave souls, I say.


In the six months that I have been with this place, I have come to like most, if not all, of my coworkers for various reasons.  I wonder if the main reason is the fact that it is not overrun with drama, being that most of the people that I work with are men or insanely cool women.  That if there is an issue, they call each other out on their crap, talk it out and move on.  Or could it be that they just genuinely like each other.  When I started, it's like I was accepted into the fold without question once I made it clear that I would let them do their jobs, be there for support and not add any unnecessary drama.  Like any family, they want to find out what the have in common and see what they can include you in.  Kickball, gun range, dinner and drinks after work, possible movie nights, debates, lunch, coffee runs...etc.  


Last week, I found myself defending "my people" when someone from another division made a crack at them.  Silly, but that's when I realized that I had claimed them as my own.  I have no idea when that happened, but I really don't see the point in fighting it.  


Of course, each person has their quirks that drive the other people crazy.  Lack of communication, forcing others to pick up the slack when they decide not to do the work or show up, moodiness.  These things happen, but what family doesn't have to deal with this?


At the end of the day, it's what brings them closer. 


At the end of the day, they have each other's backs.


It's what makes them a functionally dysfunctional family and I consider myself lucky to be included.