Re:Branding me
From the time we are young we are told to follow our dreams, do what you love and you’ll love what you do, and on and on…
To that I say – hooey.
If I did what I loved I would be knuckles deep in the earth pulling weeds, planting bulbs and tending the garden of my dreams all day long with breaks to go to the greenhouse.
But we live in Alberta where winter rears her ugly head mid October and doesn’t release her icy grip until the end of April… if we are lucky.
Who can honestly make a living at that?
Sure, there are some who do and to them I say – kudos.
But, it is unrealistic and quite mean to tell the youngsters that their career can be anything they dream when really it is only for some but not most.
There was a time when working at a dingy motel as a chambermaid was a very respectable choice.. for a summer job.
It wasn’t my dream job but who cared?
I was leaving my small town roots for college in the big city.
For the past 20 years I have been forming and shaping young minds working in a variety of different Early Childhood Education settings.
Twenty years.
There is nothing wrong with an honest day of work if you are proud of what you do and are satisfied with it.
If you are not satisfied, by all means go for the golden ring, but looking back to when I first grabbed that ring, I was.
But now…I’m not so sure. I’m not.
Am I settling?
Not anymore.
If I had gone after my dream of being an undercover spy or a starving actor (which really was the plan) I would have missed out on a most amazing life.
I can think of ten other things that I am thankful for that don’t revolve around my dream job – I have a job and up until a year ago I would have told you I was happy with, at I can leave the stress of work behind to be with my family, my kids are good kids, we have several close friends that are like family, I have a great marriage with a supportive and loving partner, I get to write for fun and benefit from it in ways I would not have imagined seven years ago, we are healthy (for the most part, knock on wood), and we are happy.
For the most part.
I’ve entered into a season of what I am calling “rebranding me”.
What that will look like when I am finally done is a mystery even to me. I know the direction I am supposed to go and I know that God is walking beside me and for now.
That’s enough.
But I’ve already taken those first steps and enrolled in not one but two online courses.
I am already enjoying the challenges of online education.
I never would’ve thought I’d be in school this close to 40…but here I am!
It’s new and exciting and the possibilities are endless.
I haven’t put away the Play-dough yet… But cleanup time is quickly approaching.
It’s awesome that you are taking a step back to do things for you! I went back to school as a mom and it was the best decision I could have made!
Congrats on both rebranding yourself and going back to college. I know online education was tough but well worth it for me. :One day I’ll be able to put that college time to use, right now I’m enjoying mommyhood to baby number five. I always say if you don’t enjoy doing what you are doing find what will make you smile and go for it.
How wonderful! Congratulations on your new journey.
One of the most amazing questions I got from my dad was simply “Are you happy”. I had started college as a Chinese and Political Science major and dreams of becoming a diplomat.. Upon graduation I drove across country with $500 to my name, a rusty car I had just purchased and a list of alumni from my school in the film business… before ling I was working as a receptionist for a boutique editorial house, staying nights and weekends to learn how to edit… This led to a very fulfilling career as a television editor, 10 amazing years at the helm of my own company, and now a completely new adventure that will lead me wherever God chooses… At the time of my father’s question I had no idea what the future held but I knew that I would always pursue something that made my heart leap 🙂
I think it’s great you went back! I keep saying one day I will but then I end up having another baby lol
I let go of my dreams not long after my first child was born. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have regrets but I have learned to live with and sometimes even love the life I’ve chosen.
Congratulations on going back to school! I finished my second degree over a year ago. It was hard during that time but I am so glad I was able to do that.
There is so much unknown about my future. I spent so much of my life daydreaming about my future family. That part is complete, but where my career takes me I’m just not sure.
I am one of the lucky ones I think. When I was little I told my parents I wanted to be a tattoo artist and have pink hair. They said ok! So I became a tattoo artist and a photographer with every color of hair and sometimes no hair. I tattooed until my RSD got so bad that I could no longer tattoo. I still work as a photographer and I love every bit of it. I also have the farm and homeschool. We are not always lucky to be able to do what we want. It does come with sacrifice. I definitely do not make as much money as I would if I had went into doing CADD like my guidance counselor conned me into doing. It was so boring. BORING.
Good for you! I think we are constantly evolving, changing and growing as people… sometimes our carreer path and the talents we tap into changes, too. Always do what makes you happy.
Congratulations on starting classes. I went to school for two different majors before finally settling on one. It was a long bumpy road.
I love this post and the way you call it rebranding. We rebrand all the time I think. As we walk through each door as a mother, a wife, a friend and an employee. Good for you for taking control of who you are.
Lee
Good for you! I’m thinking of going back to school too and I guess it would be to also ‘rebrand’ myself. I think it’s good to change what you do from time to time unless it’s something you truly love!
Good for you!
I need to do this, after having 3 kids and deciding our family is complete I need to get out this frumpy stage I’ve been in and re-brand!
I love that you are thinking about ho you want to be so consciously. Good for you!
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I love it! Rebranding ME! New mantra!
At the end of the day, what matters is that we make peace with our choices. My friends tell me my calling is something I don’t do and I tell myself to be grateful for what I have every day.
I love this post. Sometimes it is good to step outside of the norm because if not we will find ourselves stuck in roles that make us unhappy.
You’re so right. Nothing wrong with an honest day of work, although I would prefer not to be at work at times. I’m at a stage in my life where I would much prefer to be on a beach relaxing.
I think it’s great you took the time to re-brand yourself. People change with time, knowledge can be a wonderful thing, but can also make you want to change! When done for all the right/positive reasons its always worth trying! Good Luck to you and your new chapter in life!
CONGRATS!!!! About 5 years ago I took the plunge. I left a very successful career to become a artist. The past five years of my life have been FANTASTIC! As I look back – I am who I am because of the experience I had. Sure there are things I wish I had done different – but those things have made me who I am today. Good Luck – life is a true adventure! ENJOY IT!
It is a great thing to be able to dream and re-invent one’s self.
Bravo to you finding you! I think many times it does happen later than we expected it to. Mine came after the kids went to college.
Congrats on going back to school! Such a great thing to do for yourself!
We’ve been rebranding ourselves here too with making a lifestyle change.
Good for you! It takes real courage to make a stand to make a change. I want to make so many changes, but I need to find the courage to make it happen.
That’s fantastic that you enrolled in online courses, I’m excited for you! I always look at change as a good thing =)
Good for you! I feel like like I am continually in that process!
Realizing you aren’t happy and want to change is a sign of knowing more about who you are than many ever realize. Good luck at school!
How awesome that you’re going back to school and rebranding yourself. Looking forward to following your journey and know that you will make your dreams come true!
Congrats on your rebranding of yourself. I have been having similar feelings myself and feel that I should start trying to do what I love and not what others THINK I should be doing.
I am fortunate enough to be self employed, doing what I love – helping people get out of debt and save money as a Financial Lifeguard. I’m not making as much money as I was working in Corporate America, but I’m much happier now.
I think we rebrand ourselves all the time. Whenever we change jobs or have another baby or anything. Whatever we do changes the nature of our personal brand.
This is a great post. I think we need to find a medium between doing what we love (following our dreams) and being practically minded too. Sometimes they don’t fit together perfectly but I think there is always a way to figure out a way to live some portion of things together. I just started teaching for the first time ever – I LOVE it but I miss blogging more often. I’m trying to balance the two of them together. – Katy
I am so thrilled you are taking online courses. I have thought of this myself but have not found the nerve and really the decision on what to move into, it changes monthly.
Great post, I am who I am too. A mom, wife, teacher, blogger. Our list goes on and on! Moms have super long lists don’t they?
I absolutely agree with everything you wrote! We are who WE are. NOT who everybody else tells us we are, and NOT who we think we should be.
I love this post so much. Sometimes we get stuck in certain rolls, whether we put ourselves there or someone else did. We forget that our entire life is a constant state of rebranding.
Sometimes I think that I don’t know where my life is heading, but I know that right now I am exactly where i am supposed to be.