Thanks for the affirming comments on my first blog! It's encouraging to know that you are reading and adding your thoughts.
Heather mentioned being a late bloomer. I own a book called "Late Bloomers" that includes vignettes of a number of famous and lesser-known people whose greatest achievements occurred late in life. (I would tell you the author, but that would require looking through my bookshelves.) I read it at one of those many times when I questioned my career choices. It was encouraging to read about people who accomplished great things in their 70's and 80's. It helped me to feel less frantic about "finding answers" to my questions.
Who wants to wait until they're that old before they do great things, you ask! Well, I think that we all have a need to believe that what we are doing has some greater purpose, some meaning in the greater scheme of things. The fallacy is in thinking that what we're doing currently doesn't really matter. Most of us aren't involved in earthshaking assignments. We do a lot of "monkey work" no matter what position we hold. My challenge to myself has been to focus on doing tasks to the best of my ability, particularly those tasks that involve interfacing with other people.
My Bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education. I spent two years as a first grade teacher before starting a family, and (with a great deal of relief) resigning from my job. Later jobs included being a fulltime mom, working for an insurance agency (Mennonite Mutual Aid), selling real estate, substitute teaching in middle and high schools, and working for a manufacturing company as a production scheduler. I've often felt apologetic about my work history. The longest time I've spent at any job has been five years. Yet, each job provided experiences that ultimately helped me to become a better person, and a better therapist.
Therapy has been the best fit by far. It brings me into contact with all kinds of people, challenges me to listen critically and ask questions that move someone to a different place in their thinking. There is variety in the day to day. I am moved by knowing that the quality of someone's life is better because of therapy.
What's your story? Where has your life taken you? What's getting in the way of your making changes that you'd like to make for yourself? The first step is naming what you want, being willing to tell yourself,"what if...?"
Heather mentioned being a late bloomer. I own a book called "Late Bloomers" that includes vignettes of a number of famous and lesser-known people whose greatest achievements occurred late in life. (I would tell you the author, but that would require looking through my bookshelves.) I read it at one of those many times when I questioned my career choices. It was encouraging to read about people who accomplished great things in their 70's and 80's. It helped me to feel less frantic about "finding answers" to my questions.
Who wants to wait until they're that old before they do great things, you ask! Well, I think that we all have a need to believe that what we are doing has some greater purpose, some meaning in the greater scheme of things. The fallacy is in thinking that what we're doing currently doesn't really matter. Most of us aren't involved in earthshaking assignments. We do a lot of "monkey work" no matter what position we hold. My challenge to myself has been to focus on doing tasks to the best of my ability, particularly those tasks that involve interfacing with other people.
My Bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education. I spent two years as a first grade teacher before starting a family, and (with a great deal of relief) resigning from my job. Later jobs included being a fulltime mom, working for an insurance agency (Mennonite Mutual Aid), selling real estate, substitute teaching in middle and high schools, and working for a manufacturing company as a production scheduler. I've often felt apologetic about my work history. The longest time I've spent at any job has been five years. Yet, each job provided experiences that ultimately helped me to become a better person, and a better therapist.
Therapy has been the best fit by far. It brings me into contact with all kinds of people, challenges me to listen critically and ask questions that move someone to a different place in their thinking. There is variety in the day to day. I am moved by knowing that the quality of someone's life is better because of therapy.
What's your story? Where has your life taken you? What's getting in the way of your making changes that you'd like to make for yourself? The first step is naming what you want, being willing to tell yourself,"what if...?"
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