Work: doesn't deserve more time, but deserves more respect?

Today brought on a great loss to Steeler Nation-Hines Ward will no longer wear our beloved black and gold. Based upon his 14 year dedication to the franchise, I can't imagine this was an easy decision. Personally, I am angry at the team for allowing him to be released, but I do respect there may be more to the story than the public is privileged to hear.

What it did was remind me of the time that I was faced with a similar decision. My 4 years of employment seem minimal compared to over a decade, but none the less I had developed connections to my title, financial compensation, atmosphere, and most of all the people I worked with daily. If you think about it, we try to prioritize work below other important sections of our lives such as family, friends, and civic organizations yet we can spend over 50% of our average waking hours with at this place with these people. (I figured 24 hours in a day - average 8 hours of sleep per day given 16 hour day x 7 days a week). It seems to me that no matter how insignificant we try to make our work life to our life in general it becomes a major player in our life and helps to form who we are, how we interact with society, and effects our moods more than most realize.

My point isn't to put more of a priority on the work section of our life, but to maybe respect how much it effects us and others.