I tend to think that its the concept of work (outside the home) is relatively new in human society. Years ago, people generally just had to survive by doing whatever it was that provided for their families. They grew crops, raised animals or hunted, and some were craftsmen. They were (mostly) able to do these things from home, with their families, on their own terms, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Did they think about enjoying their work? Work was life, and if times were good they were happy.

These days, we have two different lives. We have our family life, and we have our work life. The two are disconnected. We endure our daily commutes and work for big corporations. We have no voice in the way things are done, and a lot of the time it can be hard to see any meaning in our work even in good times.

Sorry for rambling...