In Search of a Vocation or What to be When I Grow Up?
After Sixty eight years, one would think that I would have discovered my life's calling by now, but I haven't. There were times when I thought I had, but changed my mind. For instance:
Roman Catholic Priest
I attended St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania for four years, but then realized that the religious life and even religion itself were not for me.
U.S. Marine
I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and seriously considered a military career. A thirteen-month deployment to Vietnam (Feb. 1967 through March 1968) convinced me otherwise.
Musician
I played rhythm guitar, electric bass and sang with a Country/Western band for eight years. Eventually, the lost weekends and long hours on the road became tedious and aggravating.
Manager
Various management positions within the H.J. Heinz Company, though financially rewarding, required a lot of time away from my wife and children. Five promotions and an astute financial planner allowed me to retire at the age of fifty four.
Author
My novel was published in 2011. To-date, only 959 units have been sold, earning me a walloping $2,219.76 in royalties; thus the absence of the adjective Successful in the title.
I now spend my time socializing with my adult children, grandchildren and friends, dating interesting women, hopping in the car for spontaneous road trips, reading books and drinking single-malt scotch. Perhaps I have discovered my true vocation after all. Is doing whatever you please whenever you please considered a profession?
Roman Catholic Priest
I attended St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania for four years, but then realized that the religious life and even religion itself were not for me.
U.S. Marine
I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and seriously considered a military career. A thirteen-month deployment to Vietnam (Feb. 1967 through March 1968) convinced me otherwise.
Musician
I played rhythm guitar, electric bass and sang with a Country/Western band for eight years. Eventually, the lost weekends and long hours on the road became tedious and aggravating.
Manager
Various management positions within the H.J. Heinz Company, though financially rewarding, required a lot of time away from my wife and children. Five promotions and an astute financial planner allowed me to retire at the age of fifty four.
Author
My novel was published in 2011. To-date, only 959 units have been sold, earning me a walloping $2,219.76 in royalties; thus the absence of the adjective Successful in the title.
I now spend my time socializing with my adult children, grandchildren and friends, dating interesting women, hopping in the car for spontaneous road trips, reading books and drinking single-malt scotch. Perhaps I have discovered my true vocation after all. Is doing whatever you please whenever you please considered a profession?
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Christine wrote: ""Is doing whatever you please whenever you please considered a profession?" No - that's called enjoying your life.I think at our age it is important to open our hearts, minds, and instincts and l..."
Christine,
Thank you for taking time to comment and the great advice. It's a shame that enjoying life isn't an actual profession. It's one of the few things I have learned to do really, really well.
Jim Vuksic
Yes.As long as you don't do it in the streets and scare the horses.
Alicia wrote: "Yes.As long as you don't do it in the streets and scare the horses."
Alicia,
I have far too much respect for horses to ever let that happen. Thank you for expending the time and effort to view the blog post and comment.
Jim Vuksic
My pleasure, Jim.I type too much. I never saw an empty text box I didn't like - IF I felt I had something to contribute to the conversation. (For other stuff there is a LIke button.)
I do try to rein myself in but discovering a new blogger I hadn't read before and one with intelligent posts is one of the larger pleasures in the universe.
It'll take me a while, but a lot of yours are going to get read. You have an interesting mind. Ours is a good generation.
I think at our age it is important to open our hearts, minds, and instincts and let the fates guide us. There are certainly things we'll need or should do and they'll become apparent - but overall I don't think we need to make conscious decisions about our future. Been there - done that! Lets do something new.