Today’s horoscope:
You may be ready to add more meaning to your life as mundane events at work require an increasing amount of your attention. Your workmates may not even realize how detached you feel when performing your tasks, and it's probably better to leave them out of your current dilemma. But this is not about escaping from your daily routine; it's about developing a more spiritual approach to what you must do.
Sometimes I am surprised by how on the money my horoscope is. So what have I been thinking about? Well, this emotional roller coaster started when one of my close team members was let go from the company. It was part of the 3rd round of layoffs, we are now up to 5. Only weeks before, our boss told us we were safe and just a few days later she was let go and our workloads increased. I have been told I am safe, but the reality is, no one is. This happened right around the time I started seeing someone who was also discontent in his job. He however, has a distinct business vision and is immensely passionate about it. That is what I want! I want to be incredibly passionate about something, I want to look forward to working each day. This led to the question of, what am I passionate about? At the time I was enrolled in a course at UW and was not doing well in the class, in reality, I just wasn't doing the class. I was getting stressed about the continuing education that I signed up for within urban planning. I no longer had that insatiable curiosity and drive to learn about the field I am in. I am not used to being unenthusiastic about learning. So I sat down with my boss for one of our heart-to-hearts. The result of the conversation was the postponement of all continuing education. (It just so happened that later that afternoon I received news that the program I applied for at UW was cut from the 2009-2011 budget. No possibility of regret is fabulous). He told me a story about a former assistant of his. He said that she was an amazing woman and a great worker, but her heart wasn’t there, so he fired her. It was the best thing that happened to her. She is now a successful dentist and loves her job. When I reflect on my time at the company I have come to realize that my heart is not here. I fell in love with what urban planning is and what it does for communities and its incredible global impact, but I could never quite find my place in the field. I admire what so many of my coworkers have accomplished around the world and what they are doing now. They are why I have stayed, but after 18 months I have not found my niche.
So what’s my plan? I am not sure. If I didn’t have an amazing puppy to love and hefty mortgage to pay who knows where I’d be. Unfortunately I am an adult, so I need to pay the bills. Here is a list of professional ideas: wellness coaching, Pilates instruction, Italian language teaching, physical therapy assistant, personal training and animal assisted therapy. When taking care of my father I couldn’t handle the stress of an irregular work schedule. Now I crave it. I would love to teach Italian and Pilates simultaneously while pursuing one of the other wellness oriented professions I listed. I have always loved helping others maintain or discover a healthy lifestyle.
You may be ready to add more meaning to your life as mundane events at work require an increasing amount of your attention. Your workmates may not even realize how detached you feel when performing your tasks, and it's probably better to leave them out of your current dilemma. But this is not about escaping from your daily routine; it's about developing a more spiritual approach to what you must do.
Sometimes I am surprised by how on the money my horoscope is. So what have I been thinking about? Well, this emotional roller coaster started when one of my close team members was let go from the company. It was part of the 3rd round of layoffs, we are now up to 5. Only weeks before, our boss told us we were safe and just a few days later she was let go and our workloads increased. I have been told I am safe, but the reality is, no one is. This happened right around the time I started seeing someone who was also discontent in his job. He however, has a distinct business vision and is immensely passionate about it. That is what I want! I want to be incredibly passionate about something, I want to look forward to working each day. This led to the question of, what am I passionate about? At the time I was enrolled in a course at UW and was not doing well in the class, in reality, I just wasn't doing the class. I was getting stressed about the continuing education that I signed up for within urban planning. I no longer had that insatiable curiosity and drive to learn about the field I am in. I am not used to being unenthusiastic about learning. So I sat down with my boss for one of our heart-to-hearts. The result of the conversation was the postponement of all continuing education. (It just so happened that later that afternoon I received news that the program I applied for at UW was cut from the 2009-2011 budget. No possibility of regret is fabulous). He told me a story about a former assistant of his. He said that she was an amazing woman and a great worker, but her heart wasn’t there, so he fired her. It was the best thing that happened to her. She is now a successful dentist and loves her job. When I reflect on my time at the company I have come to realize that my heart is not here. I fell in love with what urban planning is and what it does for communities and its incredible global impact, but I could never quite find my place in the field. I admire what so many of my coworkers have accomplished around the world and what they are doing now. They are why I have stayed, but after 18 months I have not found my niche.
So what’s my plan? I am not sure. If I didn’t have an amazing puppy to love and hefty mortgage to pay who knows where I’d be. Unfortunately I am an adult, so I need to pay the bills. Here is a list of professional ideas: wellness coaching, Pilates instruction, Italian language teaching, physical therapy assistant, personal training and animal assisted therapy. When taking care of my father I couldn’t handle the stress of an irregular work schedule. Now I crave it. I would love to teach Italian and Pilates simultaneously while pursuing one of the other wellness oriented professions I listed. I have always loved helping others maintain or discover a healthy lifestyle.
Teaching has always been a form of therapy to me. I get to be the center of attention and talk in a beautiful language about what I want. when I want. Selfish, I know. But really, its great. I also laugh and joke...and sometimes my students do the same. When my father was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006 I was a wreck. Teaching each day became my outlet. Once I stepped into the classroom my mind was clear and my focus fell away from my thoughts and onto my students.
In an odd way, Pilates has always been there when I needed help. Sounds like I’ve had a love affair with the exercise, but it is true. After a rough break up I started going to Pilates regularly and became friends with my instructors and the regular students. I was unemployed, so it was a needed that social outlet. I then started volunteering at the studio. As you know, I hate being bored, so I started volunteering more and more and eventually the owner offered me a paid position. It gave me a challenge, something to do when I was going through the turmoil of job hunting and newfound singletude. Since then Pilates is the activity I look forward to in my week. I have built relationships with instructors and when I say: I am upset, kick my butt please. They do. When I am feeling strong they challenge me. When I need to rehabilitate an injured body, my instructors help realign my body.
I have seen the amazing changes in my body and mind from Pilates and would love to share those same gifts to others every day. The only downfall to this decision is that, like language teaching, it is not a stable career. Your income can vary week to week, your clients will continually change, you may be bouncing from studio to studio but that’s okay. If the mortgage is paid, and Lola and I are happy and healthy I will never regret this decision. Know any single rich old men? ;)
I have seen the amazing changes in my body and mind from Pilates and would love to share those same gifts to others every day. The only downfall to this decision is that, like language teaching, it is not a stable career. Your income can vary week to week, your clients will continually change, you may be bouncing from studio to studio but that’s okay. If the mortgage is paid, and Lola and I are happy and healthy I will never regret this decision. Know any single rich old men? ;)
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