tft: dreams, aspirations, and all that jazz

let me just jump right into it. if you could do anything with your life, what would it be? if you could truly follow your heart, no holds barred, what would you do? what would you be? there would be no obstacles, no financial issues holding you back. if that were the case, would you change anything from what you are doing now?

i've got a zillion things going around in my head surrounding my impending resignation from my job. i guess that's what is bringing this tft on.

who really "knows" their direction in life, and what they want to do by the ripe old age of 18 and fresh out from under mom and dad's wing? when i was a kid, i wanted to be a pilot. (along with a mommy, a racecar driver, a chef, etc...) but mostly, i dreamed of flying. i took classes and flight school in high school before i even laid eyes on an airplane in college.  but after a period of time, despite enjoying it immensely, i realized that wasn't "really" the direction i wanted to go. always being a creative type, i switched gears to attend design school.  i've been doing that since '96, and i truly love it. but now i see myself doing something that, well, would make more of a difference. in the lives of other people.  at the very least, the lives of my own children. instead of this insanity that i have going on.

in the meantime, i will enjoy my design and pursue photography... because i need to pay some of the bills... but there's something more to do, i know it!

am i the only person who feels this way?  is everyone else pefectly happy with their direction? maybe i should get this book titled "i could do anything. if i only knew what it was: how to discover what you really want and how to get it"

maybe i will.  now, tell me about YOU. what would you do if you could do anything with your life? 

other tft'ers this week:

• nicole on  babies and germs
• jenny on brand names
• cass on luxury
• kristi on esp, premonitions, etc.
• michelle on celebrity babies
• denise on ghopsts and haunted houses

Comments

[Cass]

I think about this frequently. Sure leading Internet Marketing is a good job and it's leading to a great "career" but I find myself at the end of the day going "so, that's it? that's all you can contribute to the word today - another e-mail campaign and a flash landing page - big woop" I'm picking up a book by Martha Beck today Finding your North Star - I'm really hoping that I find something really enlightening in that book that says - TURN LEFT here. and somehow that will lead me to what I'm "meant" to do with my life. I mentioned this to my mom this morning while we were talking and she said, just wait until this baby is born - it will change everything. And I sipped me tea and thought what if it doesn't. This post will have me thinking past Thursday that's for sure.

[Jaime]

This is definitely a serious topic, for real.
I think I'm afraid to decide because I feel like I always change my mind... like I'm a permanent drama queen.
I feel like I don't get to pursue much right now because my kids are so young and I am at home with them. But, everybody else around me (in blog land because I don't really know anybody here) is doing some sort of work or career.
I know some people are perfectly happy with their direction, but I'm sure most are wanting to go a different way.
I think it's human nature. And maybe it just keeps life interesting.

[michelle]

Gosh, I don't know. I can't say I'd trade my life for anything. If I had gone in a different direction, I wouldn't have my husband or my kids. I would be off in NY working for a magazine, writing and such. But, even that doesn't seem appealing anymore. I think if I had the choice of doing whatever, despite money and time, I would just be traveling everywhere with my family. I want my kids to see the world. But in the real world, traveling with kids sucks, it's expensive, they will eventually need to go to school, etc.

Great topic though!

[heather]

I always wanted to be a mom. Seriously, I just wanted to be a part of a healthy happy family. If I could just do fun things (travel, etc) with my family and some friends here and there with no concerns of money, that would be the life.

As far as doing something that makes a difference outside of our home, for me right now that entails opening our home for foster care and adoption. Other than that, I'm content with volunteering and working in our church. In the future, when all of my kids are in school, I see myself in some sort of social work; as a children's advocate or child psychologist or something.
I was such an unhappy kid in such an unhappy family for so long, that being a positive part of someone else's childhood -no matter how small that part is- is what is in my heart.

[kristi sauer]

I LOVE my job as a gifted education teacher. My ideal job would be to be a private tutor for a wealthy GT student and we would travel around the world learning authentically, based on their interests and strengths!! And of course the family would pay for everything and give me an amazing salary on top of it! LOL

[jenny]

wow. deep thoughts.

i think growing up, i always wanted to work in some type of business field. i loved the job i had in our sheriff's office. now that i work in hr/safety/emergency management, i still love what i do, but i've lost my passion for some reason. i know i'm respected by those i work with and that makes me feel pretty good. i crave something more creative right now, but i need a paycheck so that's where i am.

if money was not an issue, i think i would pursue some type of design or photography related field, get a degree (free of course) and then have my own business. work at my leisure from home so i could be with my kid(s). i want to have something more flexible. aaaah, dreams.

[jenny]

wow. deep thoughts.

i think growing up, i always wanted to work in some type of business field. i loved the job i had in our sheriff's office. now that i work in hr/safety/emergency management, i still love what i do, but i've lost my passion for some reason. i know i'm respected by those i work with and that makes me feel pretty good. i crave something more creative right now, but i need a paycheck so that's where i am.

if money was not an issue, i think i would pursue some type of design or photography related field, get a degree (free of course) and then have my own business. work at my leisure from home so i could be with my kid(s). i want to have something more flexible. aaaah, dreams.

[zoe]

nursing is not really where i want to be anymore. my dream is to open a childrens boutique...full of unique posh goodies. *sigh* maybe someday.

[kailani]

I'm actually pretty happy with the way my life turned out. I love my family, my job, and where I live. I wish we could travel more but that will come once the girls get a little older.

Thank you for stopping by and for commenting.

Aloha!

[Denise H.]

I too had dreams of being many things throughout my life. I have gone through wanting to be a Nurse, Astronaut, Saturday Night Live Fly Girl, Physical Therapist, Circus Acrobat, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Real Estate Agent, Cartoonist, Interior Designer and even began a my campaign in 6th grade to become the first woman President of the United States. I think that Hillary may have beat me on that one. hehe

But for the last several years my true talent and ambition is to be a photographer. And it is finally happening! Being a Famous well paid photographer would be ideal and is the next step.

[Nicole Barczak]

Great post!

When I was younger, I was such an animal lover. I still am, although I've come to realize that kids definitely put your love for a pet into perspective. Anyhow, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I then hated chemistry and had no desire to be in school for 8+ years.

I chose teaching as I love kids and I love to be a positive influence to them. (Little did I realize that by choosing that career I'd forever be "continuing my education" with more college credits to keep my license.... damn!). I also found a passion in photography, which I love to do and capture for people.

I love both of my jobs right now, although I'm not positive either of them are my absolute "dream job". I guess I still really don't know. I love teaching, and I think I'd love it a lot more if I was actually working full time and had my own class, so maybe that's what I'd still choose to be? However, I think if finances weren't an issue, I'd just be a SAHM and do volunteer work for some kind of animal rescue. Who knows.

[Robyn]

Girl, you must've read my mind. I almost used this one today and didn't think anyone else thought about it. I was thinking today If I could go back and do all over again what would I do? I don't think you really know at 18 what you want to be for the rest of you life. I think I would like to be an ambassador, or something in foreign relations. I'd like a job where I'd get to travel, but be able to bring my family and learn about other cultures in the world.

[Jaime]

Just commenting on your profile picture update.
Good news for you! You still look like I remember you (18), but better. You know, cuz it's not 1994 anymore:)
Crap... am I age dropping. I'm totally not trying to. Should I just backspace this out and start over? Oh heck....