“I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today!”—The Quote That Gets Me Through

You ever have those days where you just feel completely over it? Like, the universe decided to throw a cosmic curveball right at your face? Yeah, that’s pretty much me every time I clock into my second job at the pizza shop. And there’s one quote that echoes in my head louder than the ding of the oven timer: “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”

If you’ve seen Clerks, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Dante Hicks’ frustration is like a warm, relatable blanket for anyone who’s ever had to deal with the chaos of an unexpected shift. It’s funny how a line from a movie can morph from just a throwaway bit of dialogue to a mantra that sticks with you.I picked up this second gig at the pizza place because, well, bills don’t pay themselves. But it’s not just the job—it’s the fact that I’m constantly covering for people who call off. Like clockwork, I’ll hear my phone buzz, and I already know: “Hey man, can you cover for me today?” And there it is again, running through my mind like a broken record: “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”What’s wild is that as much as I grumble about it, that quote actually helps. It’s like a little inside joke with myself. It lightens the mood, lets me vent without actually venting, and somehow makes the long shifts a bit more bearable. Plus, every time I think it, I get a mental image of Dante’s exasperated face, which makes me chuckle amid the chaos of pizza boxes and ringing phones.Maybe it’s not the most profound quote, but it resonates because it’s honest. It captures that universal feeling of being stuck doing something you’d rather not be doing, and it adds a layer of humor to it. And honestly, finding humor in frustrating situations is sometimes the best coping mechanism.So, here’s to all of us out there grinding through shifts we didn’t plan on working. Next time you find yourself in that spot, just channel your inner Dante and shout (maybe in your head if you don’t want your boss giving you side-eye), “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”