Monday, February 1, 2010

What's Love Got To Do With It?

I know there are still two weeks until VDay, but starting today in school everything is hearts, love, and red all over so I thought, what a better way to kick off the month than talking about doing stuff we absolutely love! Eating chocolate, watching chick flicks, shopping with friends, going on romantic dates..the list can go on and on.


Notice that I didn't mention "work" among those things. I mean come on, raise your hand if you absolutely love going to work on daily basis...anyone...anyone...Bueller? My point exactly. Don't get me wrong, there are people who enjoy what they do for a living, but would they prefer being at the office on a Saturday night instead of at the beach or at a bar? I doubt it.


I'm not writing this post to rant and rave about how awful my job is because actually I am pretty lucky. I am one of few young working women who found their passion very early and life and went for it. Sure there are bumps along the way (different major in college, interview after interview, hiring freezes, etc) but I absolutely love teaching. I really do. The school I am in right now is not ideal and the position may be a step down from my last, but as I listen to my iPod on my drive in to work, I am not dreading the next few hours. I love seeing the smiles on the kids faces, drying their tears when they fall, helping them write their names for the first time, and most importantly the exciting moment when that child who we were told would never have the muscle strength to pull himself up and walk takes his first steps with perfection (I swear, it happened last week, not a dry eye in the room).


So why not do something you love?


I'm thinking about going to Australia next September to teach there for a year. Is it a huge risk? Yes. Do I have the funds? Probably not. Is it really smart to leave my secure job? Not at all. Am I 25 and young and love to teach and want to experience as much out of life as I can without regrets or excuses to hold me back? Absolutely.


So if you've been thinking of changing career paths, I say go for it. If you'd rather strive to work your way up in the job you have now, go for it! This article from Women Today gives some advice on how to love the job you already have. You're only young once and you have the rest of your life to work, so why not enjoy sitting in the traffic on your way to work or smile as you're plowing through the snow as you walk the city streets to your office building. To this day my 60-year-old father still says he doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. He never found his passion or went for his dream job (coaching a professional football team) and he regrets it.


So here's a fun question...if you could do anything in the world, without any strings attached, what would be your ideal profession? Honestly. If tomorrow you could be transported to a job you always dreamt of having what would it be? Besides teaching some of my dream jobs would be...a dolphin trainer, a magician (with a sexy male assistant), a tv producer, or a Rockette.


Then ask yourself...is it really that impossible? These jobs exist for a reason. They are tangible. The lyrics: "Some say I'm a dreamer...but I'm not the only one". Just something to think about...

13 comments:

Jill said...

I want to be a Rockette too! More than anything. I auditioned in '08 and didn't make it :/

Chandra said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lissa said...

My dream job is a doctor, though I've been rather fickle about fields in which to specialise.

First I wanted to be a gynaecologist, up until I read about delivering the afterbirth, which, at 13, just sounded gross. Then I switched to oncology when my grandpa died of lung cancer when I was 14. It stayed that way, though I kept my options open, considering cardiology and haematology as well.

When I watched House, MD, I toyed with the possibility of Emergency Medicine. After a cycle of Children's Infectious Diseases at a hospital, I also entertained the idea of becoming an infectionist.

Now, having experienced Forensic Medicine and had an attachment with the forensics department for my electives (and THOROUGHLY enjoyed it - dead bodies and all), I think it's safe to say that this could be THE one!

Oh, I'm graduating medical school this summer. LOL.

Skinny Bitches in the Making said...

I would love to be a magazine journalist writing about luxury fashion. Not so much styling and photo shoots but writing about the creative heads, the brands and the legacy. At the moment, my paying job is far, far from it. But I managed to contribute to a fashion website where all I write about is fashion. I don't get paid but there are perks. Now if only I could live off that job. Sigh.

Corporate Chickee said...

I'm not sure what my dream job is - I would LOVE to be a country singer... but I can't hit a note in a bucket. I think I would really like to be a wedding planner, but I wouldn't want to actually work all the weekend weddings! I could see some part-time party/event planning in my future!

For now - I do love my job. True, I'm not giddy with excitement to drive into the office each day, but I feel like I am at the right place, at the right time, and I'm doing my part to help people be healthier, and catch health problems before they become catastrophic.

In my line of work we get a lot of, "Your Screening saved my life" types of feedback. You can't not feel good about that!

http://corporate-chickee.blogspot.com

luckygirl said...

oh my goodness! dolphin trainer is on my list too! but more realistically i would love to be a children's book author and illustrator. maybe someday...

bittersweetm said...

I have just awarded you the "Honest Scrap Award" because I love your blog.
Come accept your award at http://wp.me/piLKY-s1
:)
-M

Steph said...

I would be a Vegas Showgirl and get paid in fruit roll-ups.

GrandeMocha said...

I want to be a professional shopper. I would shop for other people & get paid to do it. Every fall I offer to do Christmas shopping in Sept./Oct. for my coworker. I stay away from the mall after Thanksgiving.

Luna said...

you are so right. people should do what they love. i recently put in my notice at work. i am tired of working a job i hate and that treats me badly. i have money saved up so i am good while i look for something else i like. i would like to start my own business but dont have enough money just yet. still need more so i will at least work a job and make money at a job i at least like in the meantime.

Ashley Kay said...

Funny, I blogged about my job today. Telling you how much I love your blog will never be enough to express how much I enjoy your writing.

I'm working on my undergrad and want to go to Law School afterwards. Do I wanna be a lawyer? Yes. And I know it sounds cliche, but money has nothing to do with it. I like to think I'm still one of the good ones.

Aphrodite said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aphrodite said...

Blogger Olivia Lois said...

i love to hear more from teaching working girl :)


i want to be a flight attendant, an astronaut... i want to be a journalist :)

although the last one still not far to what i can end up doing!


blogging is indeed a start!