Love What You Do

What do you love doing so much that the words failure and success essentially become irrelevant?”

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.

I loved teaching this way. I remember being embarrassed that I was earning a paycheque when I taught my first kindergarten class. I was enjoying what I was doing so much, I couldn’t believe that I could also get paid for doing it. I’d like to preface this by saying that the initial youthful energy and disbelief that I was getting paid, did temper once the daily realities of teaching took hold. But, the overall enjoyment of teaching stayed with me for most of my career. It challenged me and interested me. Teaching was a good fit. I was very fortunate. 

Dealing With The Doubt

Now, I’m searching for something like that in retirement: something that I’ll love doing. It’s a messy process looking amongst all the possibilities out there and trying to dig out the ones that fit me. Somedays I’m full of doubt about whether I can actually find something that interests me as much as teaching did. 

Questioning If I’m Complicating The Process

Other days, I wonder why on earth I’m setting myself up with such a lofty goal. Just go and get a job at Walmart and be done with it. A job that provides money and the ability to leave it behind the minute my shift is over is tempting in its simplicity. It’s a good fit for many retired folks. I’ve given it serious thought. However, I can’t see myself in a job where I’m not growing and learning and challenging myself. 

Don’t Stop Believing

Teaching has taught me the enjoyment of challenge and the ability to persist. I know that there is probably more than one job that would be perfect for me. I’m not about to give up the search now that I’m in the sticky middle of the process.

---