I have spoken with many people over the last few days that are changing, thinking of changing, or wondering if they should change their careers. I am included in this group.
All of my life I have heard people say, “Do what you love and the money will follow”. The first time I heard this, I thought to myself, how can that be? Although artistic by nature, I was a very pragmatic person and to me this type of statement just didn’t make sense.
As I was growing up, it wasn’t really brought to my attention that I could dream of being an artist and that I could actually make a living doing something that was considered to be a waste of time. After all, in the 50’s and 60’s, you were taught that you graduated high school, got a good job and stayed with that job for 20 or 30 years and the company for which you worked would take care of you in your retirement. Being an artist, or a musician, or an actor , or owning your own small business was something that only people who were irresponsible would consider doing!
Now I am in my fifties and headed for my sixties and I am finally realizing that you can be what you want, do what you want and the money that follows doesn’t have to be an astonishing amount. It just has to be enough to get you through life. After all, there are no promises as to when you will leave this earth, so the time to do the things that make you happy is right now.
Will people leave their steady incomes and rely on themselves to be happy and do what they love? Many won’t, however many more will and are doing it even as I write this. Some are my age, and some are much younger. It is inspiring to me to see people have the courage to change their life and do what they love, both young and old.
Will I have the courage to do the same? I don’t know. I struggle with this every day. I love my job and it is important for many people. Can someone else do my job as well as me? Absolutely, and there are many out there who can do it a lot better. Will I have the courage to say good-bye to good benefits, the co-workers that are like family to me, and my joy in helping others? It is hard to say. Am I always going to be the responsible one who doesn’t take that chance? It is hard to say. Will I struggle with this decision after it is made? I certainly will, no matter what that decision is. Will I make this decision based solely on what will make me happy? That, also, is hard to say. I am not the only person that will be affected by my decision, so how does one decide?
One thing I do know. I have friends and family who will support me, no matter what my decision. Will they agree with me? Probably not. Does it matter? No, it doesn’t. Will I care? Yes, I will. Will it change my decision when it is made? No, it will not.
Am I too old to change? No, I am not! Am I scared to change? Yes, I am. Have I done things that have scared me before? Yes, I have. Will I do things that will scare me again? Yes, I will.
Do I have the courage?
Do you have the courage?
All of my life I have heard people say, “Do what you love and the money will follow”. The first time I heard this, I thought to myself, how can that be? Although artistic by nature, I was a very pragmatic person and to me this type of statement just didn’t make sense.
As I was growing up, it wasn’t really brought to my attention that I could dream of being an artist and that I could actually make a living doing something that was considered to be a waste of time. After all, in the 50’s and 60’s, you were taught that you graduated high school, got a good job and stayed with that job for 20 or 30 years and the company for which you worked would take care of you in your retirement. Being an artist, or a musician, or an actor , or owning your own small business was something that only people who were irresponsible would consider doing!
Now I am in my fifties and headed for my sixties and I am finally realizing that you can be what you want, do what you want and the money that follows doesn’t have to be an astonishing amount. It just has to be enough to get you through life. After all, there are no promises as to when you will leave this earth, so the time to do the things that make you happy is right now.
Will people leave their steady incomes and rely on themselves to be happy and do what they love? Many won’t, however many more will and are doing it even as I write this. Some are my age, and some are much younger. It is inspiring to me to see people have the courage to change their life and do what they love, both young and old.
Will I have the courage to do the same? I don’t know. I struggle with this every day. I love my job and it is important for many people. Can someone else do my job as well as me? Absolutely, and there are many out there who can do it a lot better. Will I have the courage to say good-bye to good benefits, the co-workers that are like family to me, and my joy in helping others? It is hard to say. Am I always going to be the responsible one who doesn’t take that chance? It is hard to say. Will I struggle with this decision after it is made? I certainly will, no matter what that decision is. Will I make this decision based solely on what will make me happy? That, also, is hard to say. I am not the only person that will be affected by my decision, so how does one decide?
One thing I do know. I have friends and family who will support me, no matter what my decision. Will they agree with me? Probably not. Does it matter? No, it doesn’t. Will I care? Yes, I will. Will it change my decision when it is made? No, it will not.
Am I too old to change? No, I am not! Am I scared to change? Yes, I am. Have I done things that have scared me before? Yes, I have. Will I do things that will scare me again? Yes, I will.
Do I have the courage?
Do you have the courage?
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