Labor Day – In Honor of Those “Who From Rude Nature Have Delved and Carved All The Grandeur We Behold”

Labor Day is here, and at Face2Face Africa, we encourage and revere the spirit of hard work. According to the U.S. department of labor, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country”.

The U.S. department of labor states that “some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

As was fondly inscribed on those “911” lorries, usually transporting goods from one end of the country to another, “no food for a lazy man”. Hard work is something that Africans understand and appreciate. It is something that is ingrained in our DNA. 

But like they say, “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. While there is time for everything – time to play and time to work, Labor Day is definitely time to relax. As it’s been beautifully said, “Spare minutes are the Gold-dust of time, the portions of life most fruitful in good and evil; the gaps through which temptations enter.” So let’s grab this chance by the horn, take a break from our busy lives, spend time with the important people in our lives and most importantly, rejuvenate ourselves.

For some, it’s going to be an activity packed weekend filled with barbequing, spending time with friends or maybe even out of state travel. For some others, it may be more of a time to re-coup, get some rest and maybe indulge in 1 or 2 low key activities. If you encounter a little of down time, there will always be African movies and African comedy shows to fill in the gaps aforementioned and prevent temptations from entering.

About Authour:

Emmanuela Anyanwu holds a degree in Economics from the City College of New York. She currently works in the financial services industry and has substantial experience coaching on career related topics. She is very passionate about Africa – and wants to propagate positive change. Lifestyle writing is more than a craft to her- it's a medium through which she expresses and explores the multi facets of life.