Find Your Passion Question #2

 Questions #2 is 

When you were a child, what did you dream of doing when you grew up?

Like most little girls I use to play school a lot when I was little, but I don't think it was as much of a passion as it was modeling some pretty amazing influencers in my life. I also liked to play librarian and my mom got me library cards and pockets that I could put in my books, this was so fun.  But ultimately I just wanted to be a mom.  I really always thought I would just be a stay at home mom, girl scout leader, Sunday school teacher, etc.  

When I was in Junior High during the 80's the idea of being a stay at home mom didn't even seem to be a consideration anymore.  There was the whole push of what are you going to do, where will you go to college, etc.  I think at that point I only thought about where I would go to college, still not "what would I do".  I figured I would go to the local State University (where I eventually did go) and decided I would like to be a psychiatrist like Marlana on Days of Our Lives... yep that was how I was choosing my career path...lol   I never stopped wanting to be a stay at home mom, girl scout leader, Sunday school teacher, etc.

High School... I didn't really put too much thought into it.  I just stuck with the EIU/Social Worker thing.  Not much passion just what I was most interested in.

 Senior Year I went to the local community college for a college day because everyone did that.  I came home with a pit in my stomach and told my parents that night I did not want to go to college....

I had good grades, was National Honor Society, had won several academic awards, and knew in my heart the only award I was most proud of was my Home Economics/HERO outstanding member award.  

My parents were disappointed.  My Dad said I had to go to school for one year, he didn't care what I majored in, it could be Basket Weaving for all he cared.  I chose Cosmetology.  I figured if nothing else it would be fun and I could have a salon in my house if I wanted to.  So that is the route I took.

About right out of the gate, I knew this was not the career path for me.  However, I did love the classes, the friends I was making , and I don't like to not finish what I start.  So, I continued on, graduated the program with honors and started on my bachelors the next fall.  I did cut some hair on the side for friends and family, but never used it for a career path.  I graduated four years after that with a degree in Home Economics, Psych minor, again with honors.

I have used this degree in many different ways over the past 25 years.  I have worked in the mental health field, as a substitute teacher, in the child development field, and now as a Parent Educator/Home Visitor in the school system.  I also use my Cosmetology knowledge to keep my family looking good between hair appointments, when my girls were little, and during the pandemic.  So I feel both of my degrees have paid for themselves and served me and my family well.  

I would still prefer to be a stay at home homemaker and now that we will be living on our farm, I would like to expand my knowledge as a farm wife/helper, but for now I am so blessed to have a job that I love and that works for my family as well.   

I have still been a Sunday school teacher, a girl scout leader, and even a JH cheer coach.  Home Economics also gave me  valuable information I used in caring for my own family.  I may not have wanted to go to college but I did make wise choices and have never regretted the information or the degree I have earned and most importantly used.

"Resolutions"

 So I am not going to write my resolutions here because I feel resolutions are better kept to oneself.  I don't necessarily wish to have someone else's accountability because if they fall through the cracks then I will feel defeated and that is not something I need to sign up for and also sometimes what I think I want actually changes the more I work on it.  Sometimes it evolves into something a little different and my success is measured differently. 

 I will tell you what areas of my life I try to look at when thinking about my resolutions for the year:

Personal

Career

Financial

Family/Home

I try to have at least 1 if not more for each area.  Some areas have 4-5 but they usually tie together as more of many goals or steps.  I do not have diet goals specifically but I  do always strive to add something health related.  Last year my health goal ended up being following through with a surgery that I have not wanted to have.  It ended up being the best thing for me and my over all health has been much better.  However, the Pandemic really did result in some weight gain for this stressed mama so I do hope some life style changes help improve that over the year.  

My progress will hopefully be recorded through the blog more as life improvements, etc.  I probably will not reference them as resolutions.

I do feel it is important to find a time of year when you reflect on where you are and where you want to be in six months or a year.  This self evaluation keeps us moving forward in life and not just stagnant.  We all have areas that could be improved and those improvements help us to be better people.