What do you want to be when you grow up??? (Caution!! Long-ass thread)

[FlamingoBlue]

Years ago I made a conscious decision to become a lawyer. About 15 years ago, I decided to concentrate my practice and specialize in high conflict divorce in an effort to make things a little easier on folks going through divorce. Little did I know that I would pay a very heavy price for that decision.

Now, after 32 years of practicing law, I am , how you say, "burned out", and if all goes well, I will be out of the practice of law within the next couple of years. And that raises this question. Now what???

When I was younger, decisions about careers or life styles never seemed that difficult. As a matter of fact, the decisions seemed to almost make themselves. I went to school, then college, then law school, then became a lawyer. I dated many women, found a good one, I thought, got married, had children, became active in the community and moved forward blindly, with little thought to where I was headed, or why. Along the way, I did not develop any aceptable hobbies, except reading. Until, about 7 years ago, when I took myself off of auto-pilot and started to take charge of my life. The past 7 years have been concentrated on straightening out the first 50 years.

So, now what? Where do I go from here?
What do I do now that I am a "grown up"? From the several profiles that I have read, most of you are in your 20's and 30's. My advice to you is to take control of your life as early as possible and find a job that you like and look forward to doing.

Do you know what you want to do with your life when you grow up? What have you done to prepare yourself?

I sure am glad that this BB is here. Even if no one reads this, I feel better for writting it.

blue

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Juliangel]

I have always wanted to be a mom and since my princess is only 2 I have many years to come with this position.

After the kids are grown and gone I am not sure, I have been a stay home mom for almost 11 years and while I have learned life skills you could never learn in college, employers tend to look down on someone who has been a stay home mother.

By the time my youngest is grown I will have been a stay home mom for almost 30 years.

 

[Ambrosious]

I've thought about this for awhile now and I've come to the conclusion that I am really happy in my position right now. Then I thought about that for awhile, and came to the conclusion that it isn't the job making me happy. It is the love of a good woman, and knowing that she will be home when I get there, that makes me happy in my career.

I truly love her and she is my fantasy goddess.

Sorry if this is a little sappy, my anniversary is the 28th!

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Wow, pretty good.

And it only took you a couple of days to hack it out.

 

[SeXy ReDHeD]

Do you know what you want to do with your life when you grow up? What have you done to prepare yourself?

Blue, for as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a criminologist... more specifically, a detective. I took a bunch of classes and loved them. It was all so interesting... especially the forensics classes. But then not too long ago someone sent me a URL, http://www.rotten.com to be exact, and when I went there, I almost threw up. Even though I'd seen stuff like that many, many times before in the classes I took, the fact that someone, ANYONE would publish that sort of sad, horrific stuff on the internet for VIEWING PLEASURE just made me... I don't know. Sick. I didn't want to look at that stuff my whole life. So, I have now changed my major to English. What concentration? I don't yet know. I'm still going to minor in either plain sociology or criminology... maybe I'll take it up again someday. But for now, I am content delighting in the happier, more joyful parts of life.

Love the thread Blue, made me think about stuff

Thank you.

[Edited by SeXy ReDHeD on 11-15-2000 at 10:36 AM]

 

[CW]

WELLLLLL,,,,

I was going to make a smart assed answer,,, I scratched that idea as childish in this case.

I currently do custom residential designing with a little bit of carpentry and cabinet making thrown in because those last two are my roots. I really enjoy all three, but after nearly 18 years of designing homes, churches and country stores, I am starting to feel the burn coming on as well.

If I was to seek a different route now, I'd opt for owning a country inn or a bed and breakfast. I think that I'd do very at it,,, I love to cook, I am enjoying talking with people more and more, I know what most people that frequent a country inn are looking for. It is, after all my favorite accomodation style. And I have the skills to keep up with most of the maintence.

Don't know that I ever will do this,,, but, it's a nice dream all the same.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

The thing is you see......

I don't ever want to grow up and don't ever plan to.

But seriously……..

As far as career changes go - if you can do that sort of thing - (I can't, just can't, too much responsibility, not enough money saved up, would let down too many folks, etc…) - I say go for whatever makes you feel right, good and whole.

In your case Blue?

I'd consider carving decoys - Mallards to be exact - it's good to specialize ya know.

Yep - I say go forth and become the greatest wooden Mallard carver of all times!!!!

Quack! Boom! Quack!

 

[FlamingoBlue]

A mom....

That's a career in itself, as is being a wife. Those are probably the 2 toughest jobs out there. And, there is little that we do, consciously to prepare for them.

What do we do? Ask our parents? Talk about the blind leading the blind!!

What we need are courses in school, and I mean starting early on, that teach about relationships, conflict resolution and other life skills. Shakespeare and Chaucer are nice but they don't prepare you for real life.

I applaud a woman that wants to be a good mom and a good wife, but I think a woman needs work skills and financial independence, as well. I have found that it is only the rare male that truly respects a woman who is "only" a wife and a mother. I have also found that it is the rare male who pitches in to help with the child raising and the house work, particularly so when the woman works outside the home, as well.(I probably drifted off point, but that's how I am).

blue

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

A mom huh????

Well you could be a duck carving mom - ya know?

 

[Silverlily]

since CW won't...

What do I want to be when I grow up? Taller.

I'm kidding, (I'm tall enough, thank you). For me, it isn't so much what, but whom. Careers come and go and can be changed like clothing. This is who I want to be -

1. More relaxed. Both of my parents and all of their parents were and are some very uptight folks. My mother and grandmothers especially worried about everything. Ultimately, I think it played a real part in the cause of death for my grandparents. My father's parent died of heart failure and my mother's, of cancer.

2. Not a workaholic. My father is, his father was, but I will not be one. Don't get me wrong; I was well on track to put those two to shame. My job was everything, my sole source of self worth. Not very healthy really, everyone suffered. This is what I am working on now. I am the stay home parent. It isn't easy, without P&L statements and market trends to worry about, I find myself obsessing about things like what percent of my hair is grey. But I will get through this and learn new ways to see myself and to measure my self worth (come hell or high water, and to be honest, some days hell is winning).

3. Open minded. Fortunately this one will be easier. My parents did a pretty good job exposing me to diversity. It amazes me sometimes to hear people speak in absolutes, the "I can't understand this, therefore it must be wrong" syndrome. I don't ever want to fall into that category.

I don't really have a specific career I want, there are too many out there that look interesting, not to mention the ones I'm not aware of. There is one thing though, I have always wanted to be, a BASE jumper. I swear one day (after my mother is gone), I will.

 

[FlamingoBlue]

The pregnancy would probably kill ya,
Sparky. Breast feeding would be tough, too. You're not contemplating a sex change, are you??


blue

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Wow!!!

I really didn't think you had to breast fee wooden decoys???

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Oh CB.....

You are so spoiled.....

Just kidding!!!!!!!!!!! Hope yer exams went well.

And if you really insist on becoming a lawyer - quid pro quo for the needy right? All the way!!!! Corduroy pants and cardigan's for you. And no leather! Canvas satchels. I want you to keep your income under 100K per year. Help the needy.

Don't be no Ali McBeal!!!! Besides, she can't get laid and you don't want to be like her at all. You're too horny.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[FlamingoBlue]

CB--- Spoiled? Don't think so....

Blessed, perhaps, but not spoiled. Sounds like you have 2 good role models and a good head on your shoulders.

Watch out for the Law. There is a lotta grey there between the black and the white. The grey is where the problems are. And learning the law certainly impacts your personal life and temprament, especially if you become a litigator. Be wary of taking yourself too seriously!!

blue