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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.Β 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?
Great post and I think we can all agree that sometimes a change is needed, either in a job or a university major or a relationship or in a hair color. Change is good if you aren’t happy. I think it’s better to make that choice before it’s too late and let it linger for too long. Good luck to you girl!
I love your new hair color π I’m welcoming change these days! Only good things have come as a result.
What an inspiring post, Davida! Nowadays it seems that everyone who doesn’t get an university degree is simply missing out on good job opportunities and will not be successful in life. Though jobs one is passionate about can be so much more rewarding and people are always more successful in something they want to do. If I think about those 6 years I spend studying and where I will start in whatever company when I am done next year it’s kind of frightening… what all I might have done in those 6 years instead of studying. I might be a successful entrepreneur these days or a world famous star baker… who knows. But hey, that’s life, we learn our lesson and take our chances.
We’ll never know right?!? Do I wish I could go back in time and have majored in nutrition? YEs, absolutely. But I can’t change time and can only make the most of what’s in front of me, And truth-be-told I’m thrilled I sort of figured this out at 24 rather than 54! And I think you’re a world class baker even if the famous part hasn’t come yet π
You have no no no no idea how much this post means to me. I’m in the midst of deciding whether or not I should take a similar leap, which would also involve relocation. UGH I’m so scared! But I’m making January 2014 my time to make my FINAL decision. Hopefully I’ll have big news to share on the blog with you and others soon…
Eeee I can’t wait! I know how nerve-wracking that decision can be though so like I said on twitter, feel free to message me anytime!
good for you for taking the giant leap!! I haven’t had job satisfaction since i graduated college, my first job was horrible and my current job is ok, but I am not happy I complain about it whilst looking for other things. I have luckily found other things to do as second jobs that I really enjoy so it makes the day to day work week go by quickly! I am looking forward to moving on to bigger and better things soon though!
Hobbies have been a life saver! I truly believe that you can make your hobby a career so that’s my next mission…we’ll see how this goes!
Applause! Too many people do things that don’t make them happy because they think that’s what the world expects. I left a job of 11 years even though I had a family to take care if. It freaked other people out but it made me so incredibly happy. Three years later things aren’t perfect but they are better and I’m much happier. Good for you for moving forward and finding your passion.
Better is better π Glad you’re looking at the positives! I don’t expect to be infinitely satisfied overnight but I think I’m taking some steps in the right direction. Thanks so much Carla π
Beautiful post! Good for you for going for what makes you happy! I myself struggle with this on a daily basis and can totally relate. Sometimes I wish I had the guts to do something similar myself! There is nothing more fulfilling than loving what you do. Cheers to you on your new venture! Excited to hear more about it!
Thanks Danielle! I might be making a crazy mistake here but only time will tell. I’ll keep you posted π
Girl, I LOVE this post! So happy that you’re taking a risk and making some moves to becoming the happiest person you can be. I think that what you talk about resonates with so many people, including me. One of the things I’m doing to live my passion more is going to nutrition school, as you know. One of the core concepts of IIN is talking about the things that feed you that AREN’T food – your career, relationships, spirituality, hobbies, etc. I think it’s SO IMPORTANT to be passionate about the things that you spend your time doing. Life is too short to be plugging away like a robot everyday at a job that doesn’t fulfill you. I’m so excited for what next year is going to bring for you!
Thanks Nicole! I love seeing you go after your dreams too! Life is wayyyy too short so let’s dream big together π
So glad you shared this. I think were ALL in the same boat. Sometimes hoping from job to job, or playing it safe. Theres no point in working everyday for something that doesn’t ring true. I hope 2014 brings you everything you wanted!
And you too Cait!!! I have a feeling i’ll be hopping around a lot of jobs but eventually I’ll stay put π
I love this post! It’s so insightful and it takes alot of courage to do what you are doing. I got a degree in sociology, I love studying it but quickly realized that working in that field just wasn’t for me. Honestly I think it is crazy that at 18 yrs old we are supposed to choose a degree and basically map out of life when at that age we know nothing about life! Argh! Bravo to you!!
I think it’s crazy too! Fortunately life has turned out to not be set in stone so though it’s anxiety provoking you can always change course! Thanks so much Jen π
food is your calling; we all know that. where that takes you, is up to you.
i think this is a great step for you. while the “unknown” is scary, regret is even worse. remember that you have the power to change anything – if this doesn’t pan out and you find out that research is really where you want to be, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! that’s the things that most people forget: things are never permanent UNLESS YOU WANT THEM TO BE.
-kathy
Vodka and Soda
Words from the wisest lady I know! Worse comes to worse I’ll become your live-in nanny right?