“A night watchman at the institution where I live often falls asleep at work. I usually let her sleep.”

Psst. This week’s selected secrets show that you can hate and love your job. One can feel indispensable or mean everything. Here you can learn about Norwegian secrets.

Welcome to the column “Norwegian secrets”. Real secrets that have been submitted by real people via the Norwegian Secrets website and app are shared here. Everyone is invited to contribute!

The secrets being submitted are illustrated by our columnist Cathrine Louise Finstad.

1. I’m stuck in a queue …

2. I am so disappointed in my girlfriend

3. No one can see my screen

4. Do you wake up a mother of three who falls asleep on shift?

Top secret at work

I have found myself saying “let’s go back to everyday life” several times. Every time I say that, I feel increasingly unsure whether everyday life is what I know.

I have experienced what it can be like to have too many free hours. That the fall conference is canceled and that I have received new messages from Nav. I have felt the sensation of being a number, a statistic, and I have acquired a new experience for my library of experiences. When I get secrets from outsiders, I now know a little more about the knot that gnaws at my stomach than before.

The secrets that go into that August round-up show that many are on their way back to work. In many places it works at full speed, even if it is a different daily life. During the day and night, behind the computer screen and through the loving arms of those in need.

It’s still about home offices and infection control measures, but the four selected this week I think it’s a good combination. They show both opposites and a kind of breadth. You can hate and you can love your work, you can feel indispensable or mean everything.

My previous permanent job was of the latter type. I really wanted to go to work every day. My colleagues and I were like an octopus with a common head, and each of our arms worked for a common goal. We belonged, we belonged together, and we had a meaningful work day that I hope the person in the parking lot can experience one day …

The advantage that the old everyday life may have to wait is that we can make a new one. Maybe it’s time to make some changes to start the fall better, have a new spring before winter arrives.

• More secrets to come! In the meantime: Follow and participate in the discussions on Aftenposten’s views on Facebook and Twitter

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