Or finding what I want to be when I grow up. I often tell people that I’m a sort of jack of all trades, master of none sort of person. I’ve dabbled in a lot hobbies, some coming and going regularly, so for just a very short time, others for the long haul.
I’ve spent time working in print shops, as a cashier, running my own graphic design business — which mostly involved writing about graphic design and running a busy online forum as an About.com Guide, as a WW leader, blogging about running (and cats, way back in the day), and now am hoping to add yoga teacher to that resume.
I told Mr. Judy at some point during this training that I feel as though every step of my strange and twisting journey has brought me to this point in time. Being a WW leader, working in a print shop, and even as a cashier put me in positions to train other people.
Blogging and being an About.com Guide helped me to understand the ins and outs (to some degree) of the online world. Being a graphic designer is a creative job, but running my own business made me familiar with what it’s like to run a business out of your own home — something I might end up doing as a yoga teacher.
Pardon this mostly off topic post, although I do touch on running briefly.
Everyone needs a purpose
I believe that. Whether you’re young or old, you’re here for a reason. That reason may change as you change. Just chillin’ and enjoying the fruits of your labor seems like the ultimate goal, and you know I’m all over rest and recovery, but ultimately we need to feel that what we do matters. That our life matters.
I think a lot of people, as they age, begin to question why they are here. Whether or not it truly matters. We get lost in being the support of everyone but ourselves; maybe our career feels stale and unsatisfying; often we turn to instant gratification to make ourselves feel better — often leading to weight gain.
At some point we realize that a change is necessary. I think that’s why there are so many “adult onset athletes” — and I am one of them! Exercise is so important as we age, for our bodies, for our mental health, and to help us feel connected to something greater than ourselves.
Running is something we do, though, it’s not our purpose in life. Even if you’re a running coach; it’s still something you do, not who you are — it says nothing about how you touch other people’s lives (usually), or how you use your gifts (we all have them), how you take care of the people in your life, or how you make a difference in this world.
Remember that, find your purpose, and if for some reason running is taken out of your life, you may be sad, but it won’t define you or be the worst thing that ever happens to you.
Have I found what I want to be when I grow up?
Only time will tell. I loved having my own graphic design business when I started, but by the end, I was so ready to let it go. It’s taken me a long time to find the next chapter in my life. I may or may not love teaching yoga. I have definitely poured my heart and soul into learning more (and trying to retain what I’ve learned, and let’s just say that’s a definite struggle!), but I know that we are always meant to grow and learn in this life and for all I know this is just another stepping stone in my journey to my ultimate purpose.
There are other things I considered training in. Things I may still add in some day. For now I felt that yoga is a way I could possibly make a difference in this world.
Let’s all meet up for a coffee date on Friday (virtual) and then next Tuesday I’ll be wrapping up July.
Have you found your dream job?
Have you dreamed about doing something else?
What do you think is your purpose?
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Chocolaterunsjudy 
I think you’d make a great yoga teacher.
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Thanks, Natalie! Someday I hope to be, but it definitely takes time.
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I think the best thing about growth is that it means something different at every stage in your life. I know that distance running is not something that I plan to do forever – I’ll still run, but probably shorter distances. When that time comes, I’m sure I will find something else that “lights my fire” so to speak.
I have a feeling that you will make an excellent yoga instructor!
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I hope to continue running distance for the rest of my life, actually, but who knows? If I can’t, I have enough other activities I enjoy that I’ll be ok.
Totally agree that growth is different at all stages in our lives — most important thing being to keep growing, keep learning, keep trying new stuff.
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One really nice thing about my nursing career is that is has evolved as I have gotten older. I’ve done so many different things in nursing–from staff nurse to nutrition support nurse to home IV therapy nurse to case management to ER nursing and now as a nurse practitioner. I like that you’re not pigeonholed into one area as a nurse. And of course, no matter what you do, the job always makes you feel that you are helping someone, which is rewarding in itself.
It can be mentally taxing tho, so that’s why I have my other interests like running, yoga, and writing!
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You really have done a lot of different things — that’s great.
Nursing is soooo hard. I think it’s a calling (and not for me, even though I’m a good furkid nurse).
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This is interesting because during my Army career, I really felt it was my life– I loved it so much. But then after I retired three years ago, I was left feeling like “what is my purpose”? I now work at a hospital as Admin Assistant because I wanted a job while deciding what to do. And it came when I was least expecting it. I love the hospital I work at because it has a great culture. And with a background in HR, I interviewed for a job (that I found out I got last week) where I get to recruit personnel for the hospital but with a focus on veterans, which allows me to use my military experience. To me helping veterans is more than a job and I really do see it as my purpose. To pay it forward.
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Awww, that’s wonderful, Angie — congrats on your new job! You are definitely making a difference. Sometimes we just fall into the perfect job for us.
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I am sure you will enjoy your job as joga teacher.
I found my dream job when I joined the Cost Guard but I didn’t understand at that time how wonderful it was. After 20 years I got another job as public manager (I have an university law degree). Now that I am retired (after 40 years working) I have understood that more money doesn’t mean happiness.
The only purpose now is my beautiful family. Hobbies: running, reading and protection of animals.
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Money doesn’t buy happiness, for sure, but it helps to have enough to cover your needs (which most of us online probably do, but probably not all of us).
A purpose in life doesn’t necessarily mean a job — I guess I should’ve said that!
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When I was in high school I wanted to be an account. A few years later in college I changed my mind and got a marketing degree. I worked in a nonprofit organization doing various marketing related things till I got tired of it. Then I went into teaching which I remember in college was the LAST thing I wanted to do and said that I would never become a teacher. 🙂 Now? While I don’t love it, I do enjoy it. It keeps me on my toes and is rewarding. Every day and every year is different. This will be my 10th year teacher and I am ready for a change. I don’t mind teaching, but I hate all of the testing and paperwork that needs to done, and the lack of support. I know eventually I want to get out of the classroom and work with students that are having trouble in math. I am amazed at the number of students in my room that struggle with number sense. I believe things happen for a reason so we’ll see what happens.
Running will always be there for me but I sometimes wonder what I would do if I weren’t running.
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That’s so interesting, Zenaida. Um, I am not so good with math, so I totally get that. 🙂 Sounds like maybe a tutoring job would suit you?
I do think sometimes about all the time that running takes up. When I’m not pressuring myself, though, I am just a happier, nicer person when I do run.
Teaching is SUCH a hard job these days. I think burnout is pretty big in the education field.
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You’ll be an amazing teacher!!! My dream job would to be a Chef or an inspirational leader.
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I definitely think it will take time to be a good teacher, but like most things, it’s a goal worthy of working towards. There are so many poses & so many nuances to poses — I was totally unaware of so much of it!
I definitely know you’d make a great chef.
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Wishing you the best of luck!!
And thanks. I don’t cook quite as much as I used to but I’ll always love it.
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It may be something you come back to when you’re not as career focused anymore — it’ll happen some day! Or maybe not.
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Very true.
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Interesting topic. When I majored in French, the last thing I wanted to do was teach. I wanted to travel around the world and still do. Eventually I realized that students were not as excited about French as I was so I went back to school for a MS and PhD and studied computers. I loved working face to face with others especially helping them. My ideal job. I would hate to stay home and work from home. I get my energy from others. Which brings me to running. I love to run with others, encourage others and love mentoring other runners.
I hope to run forever and when I have more time, go back to tennis and golf. All just hobbies and none define who I am. I am a wife, stepmom and friend.
I hope you are successful as a yoga teacher or if it turns out to be a dream job. You never know if you’ll like it until you do it.
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A wife, stepmom & friend — none of those things really define you, either. All good things — although being the best wife, stepmom, friend — those are great goals, too.
I do think one of the most important things is to just keep growing & learning, and most like there are more things in my — and your — future, as well.
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My job definitely keeps me learning (mentally) as well as Mah jongg.
There is a danger in adding too many things and as you said – jack of all trades and master of none. It’s more important to pick something and do it well. One of the main reasons that I dropped tennis and golf and now concentrate on running. I was becoming a mediocre tennis player (which for a competitive person is not fun).
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I am only competitive with myself — otherwise, I would’ve probably given up on running a long time ago.
I like variety in my activity, too. It’s just sometimes hard to squeeze it in.
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Except that when you play a TEAM sport, your performance impacts others. Probably why I enjoy running more than tennis. You can be competitive only with yourself.
It is definitely hard to squeeze in more than one time-consuming activity. I just realized I gave up yoga too.
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I enjoy my job as an editor and transcriber and weirdly, all my other jobs I’ve had pointed me towards that, but the thing that’s made me successful is being a good administrator! So I have a job I enjoy and my purpose there is to help people’s words represent them well. I think though my real purpose is supporting others in their athletic endeavours, whether that’s running with my friends as they train for stuff or do rehab, volunteering with the running club or my second career as an athletics official. I get an awful lot of purpose out of that. Good post, thank you.
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It’s so clear how much you enjoy helping others with running! I tried to comment on your friend’s post about the ultra, but for some reason it wouldn’t let me. 😦
I was definitely kind of surprised by some of the answers, but it’s been very interesting!
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Oh that’s annoying, did it want you to log in? You can always tell me what you wanted to say and I can pass it on.
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No, it just kept giving me an error. I’ll have to reread it to let you know what I wanted to say!
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Your journey to yoga happened for a reason, and it’s exciting to watch it all pan out (via my computer). I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but didn’t quite no which direction to take it. Thanks to my love for running, I stumbled upon the world of blogging…and it’s been a perfect mix of two things I love so much. A bonus? With blogging, I get to do it MY way 😉
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It’s funny, I’ve always enjoyed writing, but never thought about it as a career. Probably because I just know so many people who are truly wonderful writers. I just enjoy writing for its own sake.
I hear you on doing it YOUR way. That was the problem when I worked with About.com — there were a LOT of restrictions on what I could and couldn’t do. Yet at the same time it definitely helped prep me for where I am today — every stepping stone is there for a reason!
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It is never too late to follow new dreams! I am excited to hear more about your yoga training. It keep us young to try and learn new things
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It keeps us young (learning) or kills us, LOL! Seriously, sometimes I am SO tired from trying to learn things like all the Sanskrit names for the poses we’re covering (roughly 50). I knew some of them, but a lot I didn’t.
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Brilliant blog with lots of food for thought! In my blog this week, I touched on what if running was taken away from me – and I like that your post has got me thinking even more 🙂 I think it’s awesome that you are training to be a yoga teacher.
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Thank you! I know I wouldn’t be happy if I couldn’t run, but I also know I would find other ways to stay fit — I do enjoy other activities.
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I think you’ll make a great yoga instructor! Good luck with your journey. I came to my career later in life (in my 40s). I do consider being a trainer, coach, stretch therapist to be who I am as well as what I do. I know I change peoples lives, which is important to me.
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Changing people lives is a very great calling! Yes, I definitely feel called to do that to. Pretty sure yoga won’t be the end of my journey, but it’s been an important part for a long time.
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You’re going to be a great instructor, I just know it! 🙂 I’ve never thought about what I want my “dream” job to be because I absolutely love what I do now! I work with a great crew and really enjoy my job in general.
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Thanks, Karen!
It sounds like you’ve already find your dream job — congrats!
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This is such a fun post with fun answers! I currently have what I consider the dream job for this stage in my life!! I work from home as a health coach. It’s a full time 40hr week job for a company- not self employed or MLM. During the school year I start my day right when I get home from getting my daughter onto the school bus and I’m done right after she gets home! The company I work for is great and I have some solid opportunities for growth.
There are a couple of other things I’d really like to work on… but maybe not right now. Or maybe slowly building up. But for now my work life is as much my dream job as it can get.
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Health coach is an awesome job! That’s great that you get to work from home, too.
There are actually other things I want to pursue, as well, but one step at a time. First graduate my YTT and then find a job teaching!
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