I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I know that sounds funny, but it's true. I've never found my true calling, my true passion.
Even now if you were to ask me what career path I would choose for myself if I could be anything I want to be I would not know what to say.
The obvious answers like a famous actress, a singer/song writer, a doctor, a lawyer, all those things don't really appeal to me.
I've always said jokingly that if I were to win the lottery tomorrow I would become a professional student just going to college to take various classes without really trying to get a degree, just for the love of learning. I know that I would mostly take classes having to do with Journalism and Writing. I've always loved to write.
I remember one summer when I was going to write a book. I think I was in the 7th grade and I had my mom buy me a composition book. Remember those?
I started out by writing, "Once upon a time" because that is how all great books start. That is as far as I got. I doodled and drew lines and then I just started writing numbers.
I kept going the whole summer until I filled the whole book with numbers. If the Great American Novel is in my head it's taking it's time coming out!
In the book that I'm currently reading, Trapped Under The Sea by Neil Swidey, which is a true story about a team of divers that get trapped...under the sea; I am amazed by the divers and their work. I haven't gotten to the point of their getting trapped yet but I am on the edge of my seat reading this amazing book!
Each of these divers just stumbled into diving and the type of work that they do, and they love it. They live, breathe and eat diving to the exclusion of almost everything else. I sometimes wonder if someday I will stumble into something that I love just like that?
What about you? Are you living your dream career? Did you just stumble into it? Did you always know what you wanted to do? Or are you like me and waiting to see what you're going to be when you grow up?
This post was inspired by Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey. In Boston, five men were sent into a dark, airless, miles-long tunnel below the ocean to do a nearly impossible job that would help clean the once dirtiest harbor in America. Join From Left to Write on February 19th as we discuss Trapped Under the Sea As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
Alicia, I haven't found my true calling yet, but I think I'm getting closer. I love learning new things too. Maybe I haven't found my true calling yet because I jump from one thing to another. Hmm..... I got certified for Reiki 1 in January and I will get certified for reiki 2 at the end of March. So far, I really love it. Maybe this will be my calling. I don't know. I do know that I want to be a professional psychic/medium and i've been working on it for awhile now....but I can actually see myself as a reiki practiioner and loving it. I hope you find your true calling. Maybe writing this blog is your true calling. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is fabulous JarieLyn! I can see you as a psychic/medium! I've noticed by the things you post on facebook that you've really fallen in love with the whole thing. You're a real people person and I think you would do great at it.
DeleteI want to find something like that. Something that I love. Maybe the best way to find it is to jump from one thing to another, maybe that's a good way of finding, by trying different things.
My last post is entitled The Divers. So, you may find some interest in it.
ReplyDeleteAs for my dream career, plans changed according to circumstances. At one time I wanted to be an opera singer. Well , I'm not.
That was an excellent post DUTA, thank you for letting me know you had written about Divers. I can't think of anything scarier than being in a situation where you have to count on your very next breath by wearing tanks on your back! Makes me feel so claustrophobic, they are true heros.
DeleteI would have loved to be a singer, but I wasn't blessed with that talent unfortunately. Thank you for stopping by, always an honor to have you comment.
Still waiting. I think I will be a perpetual student though - I am taking Intro to Business as a night course this semester!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Anny! I think being a perpetual student is pretty great. We should never stop learning! I learn very cool things from your blog all the time!
DeleteI realized several years ago that I don't have one true calling. I'm multi-passionate and I'll take it! It's just tough remembering to focus on a few things at a time and not get distracted by new shiny things.
ReplyDeleteI have always said that I am a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Frankly it's more fun to learn a little bit about a lot of things than just specialize in one thing. I know I specialize in one thing at my job and it gets redundant. But like you I do go off on tangents when something new and shiny comes along...lol. Thanks for picking such a great book Kim. I'm not done yet but really enjoying it. Hard to put it down once I pick it up.
DeleteSaw a link to your post on From Left to Right. Haven't read the book, although from everyone's posts it sound like I might enjoy it. As for finding my passion to a career, I too have floundered around in my life. I have done all sorts of things, and almost all of them well, even if I didn't end up loving them the way that I had hoped I would. Now in my mid 50s, and an empty nester I wonder if it will ever happen. I look at so many options and know that I could do most of them, but just can't find that fire in my belly thing towards anyone thing. Writing my blog has been a great outlet and I hope it will continue to be.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to know I am not the only one. I really would recommend the book. I haven't had a chance to finish it yet but I pick it up ever spare minute that I can find.
DeleteI always wanted to be an old retired guy. Hey I made it.
ReplyDeleteNice post, sorry to be a smart ass. When I was a kid I wanted to be an automotive engineer and design high performance engines for Corvettes. Too dumb. Oh well had I made it, I probably would have designed glove compartment latches for Chevettes. I stumbled into test engineering and had a very interesting job, but I like being retired best.
Ha! You're always entertaining Sextant. You may be a retired guy, but you're not that old dude! :)
DeleteI think you would enjoy this book, if you get a chance read it. I'm still not done but I'm looking up all the equipment they talk about and the various divers, attorneys, etc. Makes it all that much more real, even though this is a true story.
See...at least you knew what you wanted to do when you grew up and that's what I mean. Having the goal or the need or want to be something. Like the divers in this book, some of them knew from early on they wanted to do that, others just fell into it, but it became their passion. I would love to have a passion for something just like they did. Thanks for swinging by and commenting, always a pleasure!