Monday, August 29, 2011

The 7 year Itch...

I think i am having the 7-year itch related to my career.
 I always loved talking and helping people.  
And the two combined led me to my chosen career choice as a Social Worker.  
I love being a Master of Social Work however recently my heart and mind has been wondering a bit.
  I still love talking and helping people but i am not sure if i want to do this in social work anymore.  
Big sigh!

I read a post recently from Elizabeth at Love is the Adventure
that lady is so thoughtful it blows my mind.  The post was entitled In-Between Land about the transitions that we make throughout our lives.  
And in a lot of ways, i feel like i am in-between the chosen career vs. the dream career land.  
Elizabeth speaks about tapping her foot impatiently as she waits for the next stage of her life to arrive.  
But then she realizes the importance of Tap-Dancing, 
Relishing this time and place (where she is currently). 
 And i loved this because it totally spoke to me.

I may be in transition, in-between land, 
however i should relish in this time and place.  
Perhaps in the transitions (waiting, the itching) are when we learn the most about ourselves.  
I may be experiencing the 7year itch related to my career however there are more years ahead of me.  
In the transitions, i believe are when words are whispered by our higher power into our hearts.  

Blogging in a lot of ways has reminded me of what i enjoyed when i was younger. 
Reading and writing!  
I would get lost for hours at a time writing stories and reading them.  
My cousin and i would have sleepovers 
and i would tell her stories i made up for hours at a time! 
In this period of the 7year itch, i remember these things with fond memories.

In middle school, our teacher had us write on a piece of paper our top four career choices
 which we taped on our desk for the school year. 
 My top four were: lawyer, writer, actress, dancer.  
I chose social worker instead of lawyer 
because i thought i could effect change much quicker in people's lives.  
I am not sure what happened to being a writer, actress or dancer. 
 I must have stifled my creative side.

However God has purposed in my heart the need for exploration and discovery.  
This morning Mr. Pancakes mentioned the importance of exploring my creative side--
hence why he encourages and supports my blogging.  
This evening, i came across Elizabeth's eloquent post.  
All three has lead me to admit to myself that i am experiencing a 7year itch!

But instead of leaving the itch and just being.  
I will accept the in-between land where i find myself 
and hope that i arrive in the career field where i am doing what i love. 
 Which includes talking and helping people while embracing my creative side.
Here's to tap-dancing and relishing in this time and place

Source

Thank You
*God for always being on time.
*Mr. Pancakes for being who you are!
*Elizabeth for the inspiration.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Very Insightful. It made me start think about where I am in my own life, and to stop and smell the roses while I'm here.

Arr said...

I am an "itcher" too. I am always looking for the next best. Very insightful post. Have you ever thought about adding the LP-C to your path?

Alida Sharp said...

Love this! I am learning to enjoy where I am right now...but I am itching to start back to school.

Just waiting on direction from my Higher Power :-)

K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy said...

Praying that God opens a door for the perfect career move that allows you to still interact with & help others but also unleashes your creative side.

Vanisha @ Vanisha's Life in...Fiji said...

What a thoughtful post. I agree with you, it is important to appreciate and value where you are at the moment. Just this evening a very well established playwright told me at a Gallery Opening not to rush things, not to worry and they will work out better than you could have planned them :)

Quirky Homemaker said...

Good Luck with everything. I used to get those "itches" too. At least you do have this creative outlet now! Thanks for stopping by the Sit and Relax weekend hop. I hope that you find everything you're looking for! But, remember "what we want" is continually changing. We don't always want the same things at each point in our life. We're allowed to change!

Anonymous said...

I love this post. In my career I was always looking for new opportunities and challenges, and now it seems that God is telling me to sit and listen for a bit. It has been a challenge, but I know he will order my steps.
I hope that you find a way to manage that itch....And maybe tap dance a little too! :)

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

When I was young I wanted to be a "famous singer." That was until I realized I can't sing, lol. I've jumped around from teacher to psychologist to journalist and have finally settled into wanting to do something with sales and marketing. Actually, my goal is to find something social media related.

And what I'd REALLY love is to be a published author.

CeCe said...

Wouldn't it be great if we could literally just "be" whatever our little girl self said we wanted? I myself am a Sociology major who didn't pursue social work...or anything else for that matter. Still searching.

Mrs. H said...

Glad that you're taking the time to dance and enjoy this phase. It will one day be the past but at least you would have relished it while you could.

Heather said...

Great post. My desired path has changed several times over the years, as well, but I try to look back fondly on all the places I've been, knowing that those experiences have made me more well-rounded today.

Sara said...

this is a beautiful post- very insightful. We should all take little moments in life to dance. I hope you're able to get your creative juices flowing.

Lori said...

I tend to get a 3 year itch wherever I am career wise. Thanks for the reminder to cherish where we are.

TeeEhm said...

good post! and real too....God will direct you...and enjoying the dancing

CeCe said...

This post was so insightful! I can't wait to be at that stage! Right now I'm in the "i really don't like this job but I'm here until I graduate and find a career in my field" stage so I'm REALLY itching! Keep having to remind myself that the joy is in the journey, not the destination :)

Anonymous said...

Love this post! Such a healthy, balanced way to approach all this! I have similar feelings about my career. It's so hard to find the right balance of practical and creative!

Monique said...

It's so important to satisfy your creative side. So glad your going to take some time to think about how you can do just that. It's so important and good luck on your journey.

Unknown said...

I really love what you wrote about enjoying the "In-Between Land" and learning from it. I felt the same way after about 5 yrs because it felt that every 4-5 yrs something in my life was changing, graduating high school, going to college, moving, getting a new job...and then after 5 yrs at that job I knew I needed something new and something that was me!

We all have a purpose and a place we are supposed to be...and it changes as we change and as the world changes. Theres always room for change! :)

Theodora Ofosuhima said...

Lovely post.

Loving where you are at the moment, instead of rushing into quick decisions will only lead you to your true career.

Embrace your creativity and the love you have for talking and helping others. God will do the rest.

Hugs!

Saying I do said...

I am also in in between land and experiencing the 4 year itch! I'm so eager to see where and what my career leads to- but i have to pick a "career" first!

Mrs HoneyBun said...

Wow! This post is very in tune with how I felt last year. While I am not in my 'chosen' career path, I often want to be some place else.