From State Job to Spiritual Joy: My Journey Through Work, Loss, and Purpose

🌍 Why AI’s Rise Feels Personal

I understand why the "Godfather of AI" warns that one of the worst things to happen to humanity may be the loss of work. For me, jobs have always been more than a paycheck—they’ve been a source of identity, purpose, and personal fulfillment. The idea of AI replacing human labor hits close to home because work has shaped my life in profound ways.

🕊️ Retirement and the Taste of Freedom

I first felt the freedom that comes with not working in my early 40s when I retired from my full-time job—what I lovingly call “the state job.” I worked across several agencies within the State of Indiana government and found great joy in that chapter. Yet before that, I was perfectly content as a housewife and mother, dreaming of a large family filled with “little Melissas.”

My husband Juan and I used to say, “We’re going to have ten children.” He came from a big Hispanic family, and I had two sisters and many cousins who felt like siblings. I was ready for the challenge. Nine months after we began our life together, our daughter Melissa was born—a time of overwhelming joy.

💔 A Crooked Turn

But life took a painful turn. I still grieve—not just the loss of Juan, but the nine other children we never had, along with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who never came to be. That door closed, and with it, a part of my heart.

At 23, I found myself needing to earn money and landed a job at Services for Crippled Children in Jeffersonville, located in the Rehab Center across from Green Tree Mall in Clarksville. I started as a receptionist and was later promoted to Secretary 4.

🎓 Work as Recreation and Education

That job wasn’t just about income—it became a source of education and recreation. I have many wonderful memories from that time. But where there is good, evil often lurks. I faced challenges there too, and I prayed my way through them. I was no saint myself until my born-again experience in 1989, which transformed my life. Though I never got the family I dreamed of, my work helped fill the void.

I often say I "fell into" the perfect job. I hadn’t planned it or researched it—it felt like I was placed there by divine intervention, as if I’d landed on a flying silk pillow. It was a miracle, and I couldn’t have chosen better myself.

🖥️ My Internet Playground

Today, I work from home as a blogger—a role I’ve held for many years. I also earned a TEFL certificate and hope to teach English online. On Facebook, I call myself a promoter. When the platform first launched, it was a space for friends and family. I tried selling dogs but wasn’t allowed. Now, Facebook is full of promotions and sales—it suits my “retail personality.”

Years ago, I created a website called “Stain Glass Shih Tzu” during the early days of the internet. It was easy then to rank #1 or #2 on Google. I named it “Stain Glass” to honor the comfort my dogs gave me—like stained glass windows in a church, they were a gift from God.

I wrote articles about Shih Tzus and posted them on directories with links to my site. For a year, I shipped puppies across America. Then it ended. The internet changed, and I wasn’t willing to chase the new trends. I moved on, though I don’t even remember to what.

💡 Not a Tech Geek—Just a Joy Seeker

The internet was my playground. Back then, it was bright and full of possibility. Now, it feels darker. While others became billionaires—Elon Musk with PayPal, Jeff Bezos with Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg with Facebook—I was saying the same thing they were: “This is recreation for me.” I wasn’t in it for the money.

I guess I’m not the billionaire type, and that’s okay. Since becoming acquainted with Jesus and receiving the Holy Ghost, I’ve come to understand how brief this life is and how much more there is beyond it. I’m a pauper, but I’m happy. My spiritual journey has brought me more joy than any wealth could.

👑 My True Wealth

Some of those tech geniuses may have created things that do more harm than good. I’m glad I was set apart. My riches will come in the only true utopia—the Kingdom of Heaven.

Wealth can be a barrier to eternal life. It’s possible to overcome, but few do. I’m grateful for the choice I made, just as everyone is given that choice.

I’m not a tech geek. I enjoy the internet and some devices, but I’m not a creator—and I don’t want to be. As the Godfather of AI warns, some of these inventions may lead us down a destructive path. I hope for the best, but I remain cautious.