here comes my 1/4 life crisis. or, a wave of depression...or you know, I was just laying in bed thinking.
I'm 32. I don't have a job. OK, wait. I have a job. Maybe. In the spring. But it's a job I don't want. Partly because I'm not enjoying it any more, part because the stone work is to physically hard, and *that's* what I enjoy doing. But I'm not going to wreck my body and injure myself. Part because my boss went off the deep end last season and has odd expectations off me and has no patience for when I don't meet them.
I had not planned on going back in April.
I also planned on getting pregnant so I didn't *have* to go back. But *that* so far has been a bust. *sigh*
I had what I thought was a great job. I was managing a cafe. I was organising, and getting things done, I was enjoying customer relations (something I've grown into apparently). and one day, I got fired. *BAM* out of nowhere. apparently, I was...not meeting their expectations. Now, I know you read this in the paragraph before. I've been beating myself up over this. The cafe job, there was zero communication. You say 'manager/supervisor', I do a job I think is what a 'manager/supervisor' does. They didn't give me a job description, so I was winging it. I'm more sad than anything over the situation. I mean, I'm angry too, but I'm not frothing.
So, I have no job. I can't get a gardening job over the winter. And really, I don't want to,because I don't want to lead on a potential long term employer if I'm going to get pregnant. Does that make *any* sense? I guess I'm looking at other jobs that have high turn over, like Starbucks, to work. then, I get the old brain thinking, "crappit. I'm 32. and I want to go work at *Starbucks!?*". I feel ashamed because I didn't get any ducks in a line earlier. I feel embarrassed too. Is there something wrong with me?
I keep thinking of my friend Sadie, who started a Hoop empire. She's a biophysicist for heavens sake, and she followed her heart, and started hooping, something she *loves*. I keep racking my brain. what can I do? what do I love? and I get zip.
Photography.
I'm doing it. I have a photo blog, I'm taking classes, I've got a book (YES! A BOOK!) coming out, with a show attached to that...and then? I've talked about Vivienne before. She's another who has taken a passion and made it shine. Do I have the chops for something like that? In photography? I think the best thing for me to do here is keep learning and keep walking this path. I love it so. But the way is not clear.
Horticulture.
I'm not sure I have the talent for it. I'd like to keep working on it. There was one point I wanted to do 'horticulture therapy', helping the elderly and disabled to garden more easily. I'll keep that in mind too.
But I guess what it comes down to is I'm feeling sorry for myself, and a little scared because Jason's back is not great, and I'm so scared that he won't be able to work, and there is no way we can survive on Starbucks wage.
You are not alone when it comes to finding a career path that makes you happy. MANY people struggle with their quarter life crisis including myself and even when you think you have found it, things change and you feel you need to move again. Switching careers is very common and from what I can read, I think you are in need of that switch. Sadie is a perfect example of how people can move careers in extreme directions - from academics to arts. Now comes the hard part - figuring out what that switch is...
ReplyDeleteI have a few recommendations. Nothing here will solve your dilemma but these steps are all part of the trial-and-error problem solving methodology to helping you find a potential path:
1. Start researching different career options through various methods such as researching keywords on www.indeed.ca, going to an Ontario-funded career counsellor, talking to friends or hiring a life coach. You may also want to sift through Humber or Seneca college degrees just to potentially give you some ideas of what is out there.
2. Speaking of education, now is a good time to go back to school. Getting another degree is very common when switching careers. You don't have to do it full time or even take a full diploma - just a course to give you a feel for something you may like to do. It may feel daunting to go back and try to learn again but you'll feel better knowing that you have more options available to you in the job market.
3. Finally, start your own business. You don't need to make this a full time job - it can be something you do on the side for a little bit of money having a little business, and researching how to run a business, is an excellent life skill. Maybe it is something as small as giving gardening lessons at the library or taking people on paid tours through garden shops to teach them how to plant a decent garden or even give people at-home consultations on indoor or outdoor gardening. Start small and work your way up. If it works out, great! If it doesn't, at least you have built up some skills on how to manage a business which will definitely translate positively to other parts of your life.
Remember that there is no silver bullet here. It is a numbers game. Start talking to as many people as possible and researching as much as you can. When the inspiration hits, you'll know it.
Hope this helps,
Oren