What You Were Born To Do

“Hedge your bets. Pick a flexible job and do other things along with it.

I am a teacher. I love it. I am also a building rep. in my union and love that extra piece also. I've been very involved in my church. Yup. I love that, too. And I've sung in choirs for much of my life. I love to sing. I also travel and spend time out of doors. Oh, yeah. I'm getting my master's degree. And I really like my partners in that.

If any one piece of my life starts to drag a bit, I have lots of other really good things going. I think that the network of friends you build up by being active helps as well. And, maybe, one of the extracurriculars will turn into a paid job one day.

Diversify your life portfolio:)”

“Bongo - P.R. is okay, just not really what I want to do. I'll be teaching up in Maine, should all go as planned. Check out the "Teaching" thread, I spill out all the details there.”

“RL,you are right,diversify!Something i need to do a little.”

“Ahh existential angst at 24. Newgirl, when the thing comes that you were meant to do, you'll know.

Ranier Maria Rilke wrote about this very thing to a correspondent of his:

This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your while life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse...

Accept that answer, just as it is given to you, without trying to interpret it. Perhaps you will discover that you are called to be an artist. Then take the destiny upon yourself, and bear it, its burden and its greatness, without ever asking what reward might come from outside. For the creator must be a world for himself and must find everything in himself and in Nature, to whom his whole life is devoted.

Replace writing with whatever it is that you're considering, and you'll always get your answer, IMO.”

“Ayn Rand was born to car camp.”

“LOL!

Bukowski was born to counsil youth!”

“Oh, and Artex, good move on getting ut of the sleazy lie business.”

“err out of the... blah blah blah. Ut=OUT in my parallel universe.”

“LOL @ Phaedrus! Yes, I'm getting out of evil P.R. What makes it even more evil is that I do P.R. for the pharmaceutical industry.

insert music they play in shocking movie scenes here, followed by screams of horror and pain

Pekka, just read your comments.. good to hear, thanks! :-)”

“The angst starts early. When my son was in the 8th grade the guidance counselors swooped down upon the classroom with brochures and pamplets full of career choices--from nuerosurgeon to lawn care provider--to pastry chef--tax attorney--dog breath sniffer (no kidding!). He spent many nights looking through these options and started looking a little worse for wear after about a week. At breakfast one morning he announced that he had made a decision. With powdered doughnuts stuck in his braces and milk drops on his chin he proudly exclaimed...."A dunk tank clown. I want to be a dunk tank clown". My pride and joy!!! Thank god he grew out of that...it is two years and many hormones later and he has matured quite a bit. On Friday he mentioned that he was changing gears and was now aspiring to be the innocent guy in police line-ups. Full time. Just hanging out filing in with the criminal homies. I am having Parental Angst.”

“And what's sooo wrong with being a dunk tank clown, ehh?”

“Isn't it seasonal work Cap'n?”

“Each of us have different aspirations:

”

“running girl - true. plus there's the shrinkage factor... (those cheapskates never gave us warm water)

Luv the pic dayhiker! Did Jamie borrow that bra from Madonna?”

“Artex-

great news! just caught up on your teaching thread.

Maine is wonderful (but then again I've only been there in the summer). I climbed Mt. Katahdin a couple of years ago--it's still one of my favorite climbs.

Agreed that pharma industry PR is a rough road...

Good luck with the eventual move and shift in work...

B”

“Thanks bongofreek, I appreciate it! And yes, Katahdin rocks. Twigeater very graciously hosted a trip there for a bunch of us last October, and we climbed Katahdin as well. I agree, GREAT climb..”

“be wild?”

“I have pretty much narrowed it down to things I don't want to be:

1. sewage engineer
2. banker
3. singer (but not by choice)
4. exotic dancer
5. member of the armed forces
6. terrorist

all other options I am still considering. Man, you gotta love monster.com!”

“7. Prison guard
8. Plasma-donor”

“I donated plasma once in college. The place on Central, west of the U.”

“Phaedrus, I read evil Rilke my freshman yr. of college. Thanks for the thing though. LOL!”

“I love what I do for a living. I am a cardiac/nuclear med tech but nothing beats the person I become on the trail. It's my church!”

“Paul, I thought about nuclear medicine too...along with vascular, cardiac, sonography, etc etc...
I also though about Wilderness medicine (WEMT)...
I've probably considered 100's of different occupations. ;p

I've been a vet tech, office manager, tree hugger, dabbled in teaching (ESL and ABE) and I've been a mad scientist (cancer research).

Currently, I am in the medical field with clinical research and I also spend some volunteer time in the ER.

What is the next step? I have no friggin' idear

Help!
>:0”

“born to be wiiiiiiild

so getcher motor runnin”

“Retire”

“Cripes, I can't stand the "need to find myself" line. Most times it's far too much contemplating themselves instead of actually being productive doing something - anything! Instead of living up to others' expectations these people just need to be themselves. 'Nuff said.”

“Seriously, what you people in search for yourself (look in the mirror!) need is some life-work planning. That archetype link I posted early in the thread is one method. So many people do what they are good at, but hate. Others chase money and do what they hate. Take the time to think about yourself, and how to match your abilities and your passions.”

“Why am I having flashbacks to 'Caddyshack' . Seeing 'TY' singing " I was booooorn to love you. I was born to lick your face. I was born to rub you, but you born to rub me first."

http://www.bushwood.net/shack/cadshk23.wav”

“awesome thread, Newgirl.

Pathman, your Archetype link rocks my world!”

“I am 48 and changing careers after (finally completing my PhD--another thread). Which direction? Not sure yet. So, yawl got lots of time. I don't see it as career planing, just living life and checking out things, that interest me, er living life--kinda like backpacking in a new area. I don't need to 'make something' of myself, I'm already "something!"”

“GOOD To See Back! Really missed you! I don't smell stinky butts, but I pee, too!”

“Stumprider, very well said. That echos my viewpoint as well. :-)”

“Add me to the list of peeps who are dissatisfied with current occupation.

Doing what I am good at, not enjoying it.

Chasing after dollars...not to live lavishly but to help put my kids through High School :) and to pay for the stuff my wife has already bought. :(

Stuck. Can't afford a career change.”

“I hate politics and I hate public speaking. I get mad when I can't have time off when I want it, and I don't like the evenings and weekends we're working right now. But I got my paycheck today, and I love the bucks and benefits. :D”

“I haven't been paid for November yet.

But that means I have lots of money coming...eventually....

I worked lots of OT this month, which I won't be paid for until probably April. Just in time to send it Uncle Sam.

I am happy with my income. Just not with the work I am doing...”

“I guess public service is the life for me.
A few years in the Army followed by a whole buch of years in the National Guard, of which I am still doing. My full time job is an engineer tech with a city government.
I love working for the people!!”

“Originally I assumed I was destined to be a Construction Tech for most of my adult life. Then, seven years ago we moved to Montana. Since, I've spent a summer running a drift boat and guiding on the Big Hole River, I've manned the Clay Butte Fire Tower in the Beartooth Mountains, worked on a ranch where I learned to like horses after hating them most of my life. I also learned a little about riding and roping and a whole lot about mucking out stalls. I've worked as an EKG Tech and I'm currently an Equip Tech at a hospital here in Billings. I've built a pack bridge over Pacific Creek along the CDT and now looking at another stint with the CDTA.

So, I guess I'm still searching for what I was born to do.”

“but that is mosley a hobbit.

I got nother hobbits to.
I get naps
I smell stinky butts
I yell at the male man
I ennertane vissits by frends
I dreenk watter and beers”

“Sarabelle, do you also fetch beer? Good doggie!”

“ohhh....good thread....

I know how you feel when it comes to job dissatisfaction! For the longest time I was spoiled - I am? or I was? (trying to figure out the answer to this question) a dancer/choreographer - I was very lucky to make a living (although a meager one) by just performing, choreographing, and teaching for several years...then I moved to NY and reality hit me full in the face...until just under a year ago I was still performing, choreographing, and teaching - along with many temp gigs which led me from the Diamond District to the Trading Floor of Merrill Lynch to Citigroup and now to Paralegal work.... I even helped start an arts organization. But now? I'm not dancing - feeling totally out of shape....just working as a paralegal....totally unhappy with where I am "career" wise...ps..I'm 27. For so long I identified myself as a dancer...and I felt special...I was an "artist" (ugh..)....and now I'm faced with trying to figure out what the next step in life will be...how will I define myself? So, I've decided not to drive myself crazy by attempting to define myself through my work...and I have a handful of college applications....couple of ideas on my list * physical therapist * marine scientist(still trying to narrow that down - microbiology is interesting - might need a new brain for that one though) * dance anthropoligist * environmental scientist (hmmm) * or my favorite...a sack of worthless human flesh - hahaha - j/k

now...all I need to do is pick one and save up some mad cash to pay for a second Bachelor's and then a Master's

see...lots of people are confused! I think its a bad idea to define yourself by a profession and much healthier to have lots and lots of different interests...and if people make you feel inferior because you are not a doctor or a lawyer - tell them to lump off!

thanks for reading my rambling - I'm having a late twenties crisis....”

“Did I spell that right?

I've worked my way up the "Needs Pyramid" to a point of (temporary?) stagnation.

Most of the goals for this stage of my life are met. I have adequate food, clothing, and shelter; and I my financial future is brighter than ever - I feel as though I could semi-retire tomorrow.

What IS inadequate is where I fall on the "love" level. I'm "there" in alot of ways: I have a large, caring family, and I have enough best friends to last a lifetime...
but I ain't got no truly significant other.

I made an issue of that as long ago as 2000, but haven't found an effective plan of action.

I don't get it - the chicks used to really dig me. What's gotten into the skanks-a$$ ho's?
/o:”

“What's gotten into the skanks-a$$ ho's?
/o:"
gojo
09:21:56 AM
01/29/03

I'm no Casanova, but could it be attitude. ;-)”

“On the other hand...
I love the autonomy - I have a job to do, and I'm expected to know what that is and do it. Most people stay here for years, and I used to wonder how they could stand it - I'm usually bored after 2 or 3 years and looking for another job. But it's different every day and I like figuring things out.

I don't think I've ever had a "crisis" about what to do for a living, because I've always been driven by that witch that sits on my right shoulder, little miss responsibility. Sometimes I hate her, lol.

Oh I've gotten mad and searched out career changes, but the bottom line is - go back to school to make half the money in a job I'm not even sure I'd like. Not appealing.
(and start all over earning vacation time - NOT!)

o(=D”

“Running girl, I think your kid is going to be fine with that attitude. His outside-the-box response to the career planning pressure probably means he will create his own successful niche if he doesn't succumb to "normalcy" pressures. I think his latest idea is a hoot. If he writes it as a script, he could sell it as an Adam Sandler vehicle for a million bucks.

BTW, as a favor to some cop friends once, I stood in a lineup on a felonious assault/rape case once -- and I was right next to the real suspect, too. Gives you pause, considering how faulty some witnesses and victims are with IDs. But a very very interesting experience.”

“dance anthropoligist

All kidding aside, you really ought to pick that career. i took many an anthrpology class in college, and found the subject quite fascinating. I kind of wish I would have stayed in the field nowadays.”

“LOL Pekka, I can just picture you in a police line-up!”

“You spelled it right Gojo the Learn-Ed! LOL!

Okay, Pathman, I will check your link. I couldn't check yesterday. I was too busy celebrating my b-day w/ about 15 cups of coffee. I have coffee freak outs sometimes.”

“The image that comes to my mind is the one in Running Scared where Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines have the guy they are squeezing for information in a lineup with 5 cops. Gee, wonder which one the witness will pick.”

“My brain hurts! Let's all get wicked hammered!!!”

“Pathman -
I think you're right. I, too, have come to the conclusion that the "modern" babes need an attitide adjustment... pffft!”