The average American is happy to have a paying job with the opportunity to make a little more money.
Most Americans would like to work a few extra hours when they could.
Others enjoy working so much that they never quit.
However, many Americans dream of retiring to fish, golf, garden or relax.
It all depends on the kind of work you do. If you are a coal miner, retirement at 55 looks great. If the daily manual labor is not too overtaxing, many enjoy staying on the job.
Some of my dearest friends are in their 70s and still work five days a week, and sometimes more. A friend who manages entertainers is 78 and has no current plans to retire. Another is 76 and is out every day working for a large corporation. Both agree that staying busy has been good for their mental and physical health.
On the flip side of this are people in their 70s who have to work. Often they have jobs they don't really enjoy, but without working they couldn't survive.
Life would be almost impossible without Social Security and Medicare for America's senior adults. Most of our elderly would be starving or homeless without these two government programs.
And these programs, along with people working whichever jobs they can find, keep most of America's seniors off the streets.
I only wish that the money collected from people would stay in these programs.
Every American deserves a break on Labor Day weekend, Sunday or someday during the week. A rest from the daily grind helps us to reflect and appreciate life a little more.
Unfortunately, millions of Americans would love the opportunity to work through Labor Day, and the rest of the holidays, if they could find a paying job. Without an income, it's almost impossible to relax and enjoy any day.
On Labor Day. I hope you have the opportunity to rest awhile.
Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: MOLLETTE: This Labor Day, rest awhile