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I know that my blog is not a place where I talk about my job or career ambitions, but I felt the need to share this today. I hope that it can resonate with a few of you. For me, healthy living is not just about eating right and exercising, it encompasses so many things. I am a firm believer that being your healthiest self requires a sense of fulfillment. Fulfilment with your relationships, your job and especially yourself.
For the last year or so I haven’t felt fulfilled. I have an amazing life in front of me but I just wasn’t making the most of it. Most of this stems from my lack of contentment with my job (I do brain imaging research on babies born preterm and sick) but slowly these feelings started to creep into other areas of my life. I spent far too much time complaining and not enough time taking action. There are some people in life who have it all figured out. They’ve known from birth what they wanted to do with their life, got into a good college, continued on their professional path and life plays out as they expect it to. I am not one of those people.
Unless being a professional figure skater counts as a career ambition I really had no clear life aspirations growing up. Like most people, I knew I wanted to be successful, but in what domain I really had no clue. In university I switched my major 3 times before finally settling on psychology. I really did love studying psych. I find people fascinating so learning why people act like they do was really interesting to me.
To continue in the realm of psych you have one of two options, more school or research. I was looking to try something new so I opted for the latter. First in New York and then in Toronto. In my brief stint of funemployment between NYC and Toronto I knew that going onto another job in research wasn’t the right move for me, but I am a practical person and employment meant more to me than passion. I discovered quite quickly in my current job that passion is necessary to not getting burnt out. I was lacking that key element and my motivation waned.
Despite my lack of enthusiasm for research, I have been fortunate to have incredible bosses in both of my jobs. They epitomize intelligence and work ethic and the passion I see in them is something I would like for myself. I’m just in the wrong field. Coming to that realization was easy, but making the change was incredibly difficult.
Quitting has a bad reputation. It’s viewed as giving up or throwing in the towel, but I really don’t see it that way. Sometimes you have to let go of things that aren’t good for you. This year I had to quit running, and you know what? Life went on. If anything I’ve grown from the experience. And that’s how I’m choosing to view quitting my job, as an experience from which I can grow. I see it as an opportunity to try new things, step out of my comfort zone and become a better version of myself.
So what’s next? A few things. First, I will be dedicating more time to Kewaza. I could not be more thrilled with this opportunity and am excited to be a part of a growing company led by an inspiring young entrepreneur. I also will be trying my hand at some catering. Clearly I love to cook and bake and nothing makes me happier than having people share in this goodness.
I also want to expand my knowledge of nutrition and have toyed with the idea of taking classes. I’m waiting to see how much free time I have in the New Year before I commit to anything. I have a habit of overburdening myself and I’m trying to avoid this in 2014.
And then there’s the blog. I’m not going to pretend like I don’t have aspirations for it. I love this little space of mine and I love being a part of the blogging world. I do not anticipate blogging ever becoming a full-time gig, but food props can get expensive so the pocket change I make from ads helps to pay for those. I do, however see it as a platform to many different opportunities that will hopefully present themselves along my journey. I do NOT blog for the money. Blogging is my release, it’s what I look forward to at the end of the day and has connected me to unbelievably inspiring and talented friends around the world. I could not be more grateful to every single one of you who shows up here everyday.
It makes me nervous that I am giving up a formal title for an unknown one. I’m no longer a research assistant and instead am becoming a trick of many trades. I’ve made peace with the fact that I don’t need to have it all figured out. I probably never will, but I need to try out many different things to figure out what fuels my fire. Because if not now, when?
First of all I have said this before but I’m going to keep saying it – you are awesome. This is such a great post. I truly admire these steps you’re taking in your life and cannot wait to hear about your journey. I think “if not now, when?” is a really important question to think about. I have been mulling over that recently in my life, and I can come up with a million reasons why “not now” is the answer, but also a million reasons why “of course now” is the answer. You had the courage to take that leap!
PS. When I was little I wanted to be a meteorologist. Isn’t that weird? My “passion” used to be watching weather channel for hours like it was a show…
bahaahhahaa who in the right mind wants to be a meterologist?!?! Kind of awesome though!
It’s a weird time when you you’re finishing up your undergrad but try not to freak out because it won’t get you anywhere. Try out everything and figure out what doesn’t work. Eventually what does will make sense 🙂
I picked the right day to start reading 🙂 I’m going through the same thing with an unfulfilling job. Of course I’m letting all the “what if’s” cloud my decision making. Congratulations on ripping off the band-aid and making the jump! Do you feel relieved? Looking forward to following along as you figure out your next steps. Good luck girly!!
Kristina, you definitely did pick an interesting day to start reading! I promise I’m not this intense on a daily basis haha
I feel SO relieved! Now if only this week could speed up and I could get outta this place!
When? Now, now, NOW! I’ve found that I very rarely ever regret taking a chance… it’s those “what ifs” that plague me the most. I studied psych in school too, and after a few years of working in the field, decided it just wasn’t for me. This summer I made the decision to undergo a huge career change, and while it was scary as hell at first, I’m loving where it’s taking me so far. You’re amazing and I have no doubt that you’ll be successful in anything you choose to do.
Best decision you ever made and I KNOW great things are coming for you!
I am SO SO SO envious of your guts to follow your heart. It is so hard sometimes (internally struggling with that right now) and everything is going to work out marvelously. You are so brave and inspirational!!
Gahhhh cassie I am none of those things but thank you! Just one girl either making the best or worst decision ever…..talk to me three months down the line haha
I’m so proud of you for coming to these realizations! A lot of people stay in jobs or in situations they don’t like because they’re afraid to lose that label and really discover where their passion lies. I think it’s awesome that you’re looking to follow your passions – definitely the way to create happiness in life!
Thanks girl! I’m so excited to see what life has in store for you post-grad!
I think it is really brave of you to decide that you want to follow your passion. So many people don’t have the will or the opportunity to discover their passion and end up working meaningless jobs or jobs that don’t fulfill them for the rest of their lives. I hope you find your passion and it brings you happiness every single day. This is one of my favorite posts!
Thank you so much Britt! I certainly hope so too!
HOORAY! I love this post! Brava, Davida — this is a huge deal, and it’s freakin’ amazing. Deciding to follow your heart is both brave and inspiring, and I give you a ton of credit for doing this. You’re going to kick butt in your new adventures (of that I’m sure), and everything is going to work out beautifully. Huzzah for you, my dear!
Thanks girl!!! May need a little huzzah pick-me-up three months down the line but I’m 99% sure I made the right decision! Love every single one of your comments. You are awesome!
YAYYYYYY go Davida!!! You’ll figure it out so don’t worry. You’re already on your way with this first huge step you took. It’s better to be happy. I understand completely (first hand) how a job you’re not passionate about can make you feel. I wish I had balls like you to just quit and do what makes me happy. Good job, girl. I’m glad you’re getting into catering. You’re an amazing cook 🙂 Definitely take the classes, too!
Thanks girl! I was thinking of moving in with you and Meg and privately catering for both of you. Should pay the bills right? Paleo just for you!
I know a lot about what you’re feeling. I fell into video editing because I took a class in high school and was decent at it, so I guess I’ll just keep going down that path. At that time (the olden days since I’m 43), you could never have edited or made home movies from home. You needed bit machine rooms and edit bays. Well cut to over 20 years later…I still rely on video editing as my bread and butter as a freelancer, but I’ve been “over it” for years. But by accident I discovered MY passion with blogging (and you can make a lot of money and not lose yourself if you know what I mean) and being an entrepreneur in general, so I’m slowly, andI mean slowly transitioning to becoming that. Life is too short to not follow your passion. I hope you find it and have success with whatever you want to do!
Thank you so much Tanya! I absolutely love blogging too though I worry about turning it into a career because it is such a release for me. But time will tell! Cant wait to see what the future has in store for both of us 🙂
Oh Davida, you are a woman after my own heart! My passion is writing. Nothing else has ever come close except maybe reading. I have always been too practical to rely on this passion for income. And I was too scared at 18 years old to contemplate moving to NYC. Therefore, I have a job that I enjoy every day, but is not my passion. I am fortunate enough to be on the hubby becoming a lawyer and becoming our sole income plan. So I’m only anticipating working at this job another year or so. This helps a lot. I have so much admiration for you staking out on the hopes of becoming more fulfilled in your career! Good luck, lady! I can’t wait to hear how your journey goes!
Thanks so much Cassie! I think everyone should live in NYC once! Dream big and take a chance. You never know what could happen!