Ah, Life...

I have been reading my friend "L's" blog for a while now, and I have been particularly inspired by her last few post. She is on a personal Journey, often solo, to find what it is that will ultimately fulfill her.  I can relate to this journey, because I have always been restless in trying to discover what it is that I would like to pursue in life, as a career or otherwise.  When one doesn't fit any mold of society, I think they find it hard to conform to what society has to offer.  It has always felt like an ongoing battle for me - trying to discover a passion and trying to pursue it as a career.

What do I want?!  What is my goal?!  What should I be doing?!  What was I meant to do?!  What is right?! What is possible?! I like (insert passion), but should it be my career!?

For me I have done a myriad of things to a level that usually fits above average, but every time I get to a certain point I have dropped out and started something else.

 For example I have done the following and reached a high level of personal achievement:
1. Became popular in grade 10
2.In a successful high school rock band (a good one for the times)
2.1 Learned half a dozen instruments including didgeridoo, and violin 
3.Became a near expert in wilderness survival/living
4.Became adept at identifying wilderness plants
5.Became fairly decent at home recording
6. Reached an expert level of rockclimbing (5.12 and aid climbing)
7.became a temporary guru at physical training especially with rock climbing
8.Achieved academic success in business, top of my classes in every class in first year college

Every one of these passions I have considered seriously for a career.  And how many times was a sure this one was the one?  It's a frustrating journey! 

My friend has amazing spirit and is constantly thinking about her life and her future. Something few people do.  She has followed her heart and her whims and it has taken her across the country and around the world.  One thing that has been a constant with her is her passion for life.  She has always impressed me with her brilliant revelations about the wonders of the world, and every time we crossed paths over the years she was with a new set of unique individuals.  Her willingness to meet new people, and try new things is what I admire the most about her.  But since I can remember one question was always on her tongue, "What am I going to do with my life?". 


This is an interesting dichotomy.  For one who has jumped into the hands of life, who has done more and seen more than some in their lifetimes, wonders what she will ultimately be doing!!

My interpretation of this is that whatever she was doing before, hasn't served her properly.

Her adventures haven't fulfilled her deeper desires, so far.  She is still searching and now has come to a moment when she is questioning her life decisions.  She can't go back, but she doesn't know where to go from here.  Interesting.

Advice is hard to receive.  And giving it is just as novel as listening to it.  I have a spot in my heart that always wants to give advice, but it often comes from my own personal life position, relevant to no one but myself, and often not even that great.

Buuuuut if I were to give advice to someone on a life journey...  It would point out the tremendous amount of time it takes to become great, and until one commits to a path there will only be shallow experiences... I don't think it matters what we choose to do, as long as we do it without reservations.  Do the math, the thinking, do the analyzing, both with passion and without it.  With reason and logic.  But once a decision is made, don't change it.  Commit, and get ready for the long, hard, and slow journey to success.





Before I decided to follow a career in accounting, my goal was to get a degree, and once I enrolled, I was committed.  (Note: just to set myself up for this goal took me 3 years!!)

As I began this journey, options opened up, opportunities arose, and I jumped on the ones that both fit with my life plan, enhanced it in some way, and didn't steer me off my planned course.  Other opportunities arose that were truly once in a lifetime, but I let them go, because I was committed to me goal and any thing that didn't fit into that goal was only a distraction.

As I move forward into the future I know that new ideas and opportunities will always present them selves, (there is no scarcity of opportunities) but I will only evaluate them in light of my goal, and if they don't fit, then I will drop them.  The opportunities that I have taken have been inline with my master plan and boy were they ever awesome.

In conclusion, my friend L is coming to a crossroads, and she must make a decision. She mustn't rush the decision or make any rash, spur of the moment, decisions.  She should spend the next little while working hard to discover the path she must take. She should look at all the pros and cons, sleep on it, think about it some more, get more information, think about it some more, evaluate it, sleep on it, get advice from various sources, and continue doing so until there are no doubts at all that, given her circumstances, that 'this' is the best choice for her.  Once that decision is made, she should commit to it and ignore any opportunities or distractions that will pull her off course. She should also choose and utilize the opportunities that will enchance, accellerate and progress her goals, even if the are scarey, intense, or seemingly beyond her.

The decisions of life are tough, but they have to made.

This is commitment and I think it is the key to success. 

Cheers, and good wishes, good luck on your journeys!!

J.