Friday, February 04, 2011
scattered
i don't have ADD. i know i don't. but when it comes to jobs and choosing a career, it sometimes feels like it. i have always been jealous when somebody says "ever since i was a kid, i knew i wanted to be..." when i hear that, it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. i have always wanted to be so many different things. but the pressure to choose just one makes me hesitate, and i end up doing nothing that i wanted to. i enjoy doing many different things, but there has never been just one thing that made me happy. sometimes i just feel scattered. i have great short-term focus. but i lack long-term focus. i like to dip my hand in many different things, but never jump all the way in. personally, i don't think there is anything wrong with that. so why is it so difficult to find something i can do to pursue all these different interests? any ideas? i make a decision, only to change my mind a couple days later. i want to be a doctor, a musician, a writer, an astronaut, an archaeologist, a teacher, a researcher, a world traveler, a chef, and the list goes on. here i am, 30 years old and still undecided. and still feeling pressure to be something. why do i have to choose one? why can't i be everything? how can i be everything?
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6 comments:
You are just balanced. And so, you may never have a life-long "career" with all of the benefits, but you'll never be stuck in a life long career, either! You will learn and experience new things every day, and the only downside is that you'll have to create your own retirement fund!! I mean, really! That's the only real advantage to sticking with one thing! If you know how to manage your savings, then there's no point to picking one thing. try 'em all!
I don't know... I think when people are searching for "what to do with their lives" what they're looking for is "fulfillment". Personally, I think that comes from doing something (one thing or many)that you're good at both because you enjoy it and because you're making a contribution. I believe the better you become at it the more valuable you are to others, in turn you get more "fulfillment". So I guess I say pick one, get good at it, and you'll never look back and wonder about the other options because you'll be happy. (I'm certainly no expert though. :))
Maybe you are thinking too much. It is wonderful to like a lot of things. There are so many things I want to learn about and do. That is why the "snowbirds" get to take classes at USU when they come up here in the summer. They are "retired" yet they are still learning new things. This is my advice. Live and Laugh! Just pick something and embrace it. Quit second guessing :o) My favorite saying is by Will Rogers "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there."
Nothing wrong with you at all!! I wish I had the guts to try new things. What I know and have done is so safe for me I never change. And Im probably missing out on some really wonderful and happy adventures. Go for it!! Whatever it is or if it is several different options. I envy you!!!
Kera, I understand your confusion and have empathy for you. In my life I have searched for many answers and been required to make countless decisions. For each of these situations I have hoped, prayed and pondered to have the perfect answer and also have that answer validated by inspiration from above. Indeed, there have been a number of those instances and I am thankful for them, however, most of the time I have been left to make decisions using my own devices. I had to gather the facts, weigh the alternatives and employ logic and common sense and hope that was good enough. I think this especially applies to you since you have the smarts and ability to do just about anything. As far as employment, lacking direct inspiration, pick something that you like reasonably well (no such thing as a perfect job), where jobs are available, exists in lots of places, that you can support yourself and even have a little extra, (plus any other critical parameters) and then dive in. Don’t necessarily go for the easiest path, most times the investment in time is worth it in the long run, but don’t let lack of inspiration stymie you, as I said, lots of times I have had to make my own inspiration using the facts. I am sure you have heard all this before but remember, you have lots of people cheering you on, you can and will succeed! We love you, Dad
hey kera! i know it's a month after the fact, but i read your post the day you posted it and i found myself nodding all the way through it, agreeing with everything you said. i know how you feel (or felt).
i don't think i've learned how to deal with my "career wandering" yet (like academic wandering but more serious!) but i've decided that i have to go with what i do BEST. one of my goals this year is to FOCUS--focus on what i do best.
i like to play the piano, sew, cook, blog, write, decorate, take pictures, etc...but they aren't my strongest talents. my strongest talent and what i enjoy doing the most is graphic design. the other things are great, but they aren't the things that i can see myself doing every day, and getting paid for it. so i'm conditioning my life in a way where i'm focusing on THE most important thing--graphic design--and studying, researching, finding clients, building up my portfolio and making it worth my while. everything else can just be side perks. i get bored easily so it hasn't been easy, but i found that it's given me a stronger sense of self and purpose.
i wish you luck with whatever you've decided to do! i know you'll be successful!
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