..Working Overtime to Impress the Boss...

I've been working at this local bookstore for about six months now. I was really excited when I started because books are my passion, and the idea of spending my days surrounded by them seemed like a dream come true... My boss, Mr. Thompson, is always busy with meetings and phone calls, so there's not much time to talk to him directly. Still, every day as I clock out at the end of my shift, I feel this nagging feeling in my stomach, wondering if he notices me or thinks I'm doing a good job... One day, just before Christmas, sales were going crazy and everyone was short-staffed. The manager asked us to stay late and help with organizing returned books... At first, I was happy to oblige because it felt like an opportunity to show Mr. Thompson what kind of hard worker I am... But as the hours went by and more books piled up on the counter, exhaustion started creeping in... I remember feeling so tired that my eyelids were heavy and all I wanted was to go home and sleep... Then Mr. Thompson walked over with a cup of coffee and offered me one too... He said he noticed how hard everyone had been working and appreciated our efforts... That little moment made my day because it felt like he actually saw me... But here's the thing, ever since then, I've started staying later than I should... Sometimes without even telling anyone or logging overtime hours on the clock... At first, I thought it was just about doing a good job and helping out when needed... But now I feel like maybe there's something else driving me too... The other day after another long shift, my best friend called to ask why I never have time for lunch anymore... She pointed out that working too much isn't healthy or sustainable and it might be hurting our friendship... It made me realize that all this extra work has a cost... And while Mr. Thompson hasn't said anything specific about how he feels about the extra hours, the thought of him not noticing or appreciating my efforts makes me feel lost... So here I am, still stuck in this loop where I'm giving so much to the job and to Mr. Thompson hoping for recognition that never comes... It's a weird place to be, caught between passion for books and an unhealthy obsession with approval from above...