I think it’s official!

I’ve been enjoying these past few months, even though I wasn’t doing all that I promised myself I would. Partly because the weather wasn't that encouraging, partly because I was having so much fun doing nothing more exciting than going to movies and meeting with friends, and partly because I really am a somewhat lazy person at heart! 

Still, once I started on my dual path of finding some freelance work and also kicking my career search into goal, I had a new excitement in me. So now I’m looking forward to what each week is going to bring. I’m meeting a lot of people in the Career Counseling (if you need someone from HR or Financial Analysts or such I have people you should meet!) and it’s great to see their excitement for the search, the determination they bring to each potential job, and the types of things they are doing with their lives.

So this week I’ve made out my to-do list for each day and am hoping to get most of it accomplished. More on that to come no doubt! 

What has been making you happy? 

Friday Photos - Coomakista Pass

Here’s a picture from Coomakista Pass, Kerry.  It’s about five miles from where my dad was born, and the family had gone for a cousin’s wedding. The wind was tremendous, but you can only tell in the wispy clouds. The Pass is pretty much at the tip of the Ring of Kerry, looking south to Cork. It’s an impressive place--the light sparkling, the shadows falling, the blue was a bit stronger and the greens a bit deeper, but I think this is kinda cool, too, where the waters are blending together. I like this memory for sure! :) 

Thursday thoughts - The Element by Ken Robinson, Ph.D.

So last week I attended my first “Work Team” as part of the career counseling sessions. It was interesting--about twenty people from all different areas (with emphasis on HR and Financials) and what they are doing in their job hunts. 

I mentioned that I was searching for my new passion, but wasn’t quite sure what it was. So one person recommended reading Ken Robinson’s books about finding your passion. I'm actually listening to this rather than reading it, and the author is doing a good job relating the anecdotes and explaining things.

I’m half-way finished and find it encouraging and inspiring if not quite prescriptive enough for me at the moment. (I want an answer now! Fix me!) But it’s true. You need to find out your passions and see how you can make it work for you. So the “element” is where your passion meets your natural aptitude. It’s your zone so to speak. And then use creativity and imagination and inspiration to bring those together to find out where you should be. 

I love the idea that everyone can find their perfect element. But I don’t have the passion for playing billiards, the ability to walk on my hands or desire to play an instrument for hours a day. So I'm still searching for my things (other than reading books).

I think most authors I know have actually found their passion--they’ve actually made a commitment to finish that book, and the next one. But in my conversations with family and friends, I don’t know that they are working in jobs that are their passion. Though sometimes it does lead to money/free time and the ability to do something else for the passion! :)

Happily, there’s still time ahead for me. And maybe when I finish the book I’ll have the answer! Or at least have his next book on hand and hope to get to the next step!

Do you think searching for your passion is crazy? I do wonder....

When you're not Stationery...

Walking around the streets in New York, I do see a lot of bodegas (like a corner deli elsewhere but carrying a lot more interesting stuff!) and such that say “Stationary” on the awning. And I also find that error a lot in manuscripts and books! So my little personal trick with this is to ask if they will need an Envelope. If so, then use the “e”. If not, the message isn’t going anywhere and the stationary version is right.

I’ll see if I can find a picture for this--it’s usually not too hard, but I don't always track them. :)

Work in Progress...

Since November, I’ve been considering myself of a bit of work in progress. For the first months, it was definitely a fallow field, cocooning and reading and resting. But now my energy levels are up, and I’m excited about the potential options that are ahead.

I’ve been working with a career center to see what options are out there, but in the meantime, I’m itching to get back to working on some manuscripts. So I’m going to see about freelancing. If you’re interested in working with me, I’ve definitely got the free time at the moment!

This site is also currently a work in progress. I’m taking some classes and courses on how to improve it, and if you come back you’ll see some changes as I learn about what I want to do and how I’m also improving myself. So welcome, recommend some good books, tell some great stories, and we'll see what comes out for this spring.

Thanks for stopping by--and I’d love some feedback so I can improve!

Matrice