My True Calling

I know I need a change in career.  That scares the living be-jeepers out of me.  I've been in the same line of business for almost 25 years.  I mentioned it to my coach a couple of weeks ago.  Then didn't mention it again.  He knows me so well for someone who hasn't known me for long.  But it's not about quantity ... it's about quality.  And he's been doing this a long time.  So last week he asked me what I saw myself doing as a career when I was 65.

I don't know exactly.  I know I need to be involved with people.  With helping them.  With guiding them.  Supporting them in their quest for a healthier, fitter, happier life.  I have always been a people person and when I worked as a receptionist, then an admin assistant, I had lots of contact with the "outside world" ... I was able to help people.  My last 6 years (my anniversary with my current company is on Hallowe'en (how appropriate)) has been sitting at a desk, trying to focus (this has always been a challenge for me) on one document at a time.  Things are a lot better recently.  But I still need to make a move.  And it still scares the hell out of me.

So I'm off to see Andrew (aka "him" ... I figured everyone, especially Barry, was getting tired of hearing "Andrew this and Andrew that" so I call him "him" ... which "he" gets a kick out of) tomorrow (Tuesday) for a massage (I can't wait) and to talk about the future ... and what I plan to do about it.

I really don't know what to call what I want to do.  Life/Health Coach?  Quite possibly.  I want to make a difference in peoples lives.  I want to help them be happier ... healthier ... get the most out of life.  I see far too many people who are bogged down by the mundane things in life ... too many people who are coasting ... or worse ... muddling ... through life.  They don't look at you.  They're either too busy with their smartphones, busy in their own minds, trying to keep everything straight ... maybe they're tired .... bored ... listless ... unhappy.  It's a little unsettling to just meet a stranger's eyes... although personally I find it easier to meet someone's eyes I don't know than to hold someone I do know's eyes.  Especially if I find them a little unsettling ....

So I'm about to get unceremoniously kicked out of my comfort zone.  I can't wait :)

Check out Gary's blog below .... he's got some great stuff ...

http://garysphotographs.blogspot.com/2010/06/overcoming-challenges.html

A revelation ... and relief ...

My massage therapist that I've been seeing is also my health and lifestyle coach.  Appointments have been wonderful ... making great progress ... he's very happy with and for me.

During the course of our treatment, he recommended I read a book ... Driven to Distraction ... it's the layman's bible on recognizing and coping with ADD.  I am not a huge fan of "labels".  I think some things (ADD being one of them) is over diagnosed.  I think they're far too quick to prescribe a pill instead of dealing with the root cause.  However, in reading this book, I realize that treatment for ADD encompasses several things ... only one of which is meds.  Some people do not respond well to the medication. 

You've probably figured out that I have ADD.  I have not been officially diagnosed.  But all the signs point to this.  And I am actually OK with it.  In fact, I'm rather relieved.  It explains a LOT about why I am the way I am sometimes.  I normally have 2 or 3 things on the go at the same time.  My mother in law once said I was the most restless person she knew.  Go figure.  I struggle at work sometimes ... I can't sit still for very long ... I'm up and moving on a regular basis.  My boss and I definitely do not see eye to eye.  She thinks I'm completely off my rocker. She's kinda right.  But I'm OK with that.

This is only the beginning of my journey with this issue.  One thing that seems to be consistent ... the need for regular exercise and for structure.  I'm sure that nutritionally, removing a lot of the wheat, flour, gluten and sugar out of my diet has helped.  I've noticed over the years that I am at my best with regular exercise ... when I'm in a structured environment.  My nature is to live in chaos.  My mother used to call me a whirlwind (and maybe a bit of a slob).  I tended to drop things rather than putting them away.  I still struggle with this but since I've been hooked up with FLYlady.net, and I took the time to organize and clean out the house ... I'm much better.  I still have my "hot spots"  ... the office and laundry room are the hardest rooms for me to keep tidy.  I am working on that.

I am looking at a career change ... I'm not sure what exactly ... but I want to help people.  That is my nature ... not sitting behind a desk working on legal documents.  Funny ... my boss had me pegged ... she just didn't "label" it. 

Ultimately ... if I could have one person feel about me the way I feel about my coach ... it would make everything worthwhile.