“So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains. And we never even know we have the key.” — Eagles, Already Gone

If you haven’t already read Cheryl’s entry for Aug. 23, “Why can’t it be easy,” check it out. Way to put it, girl!  Those same questions are a self-defeating chorus that persistantly echoes through my brain.

Funny thing is, I’m endlessly frustrated by people that are unhappy, yet won’t take steps to change things.  That drives me crazy! If you’re not willing to take action and fix your life, you have no right to sit around bitching about how miserable you are. And frankly, I’m tired of hearing about it.

But when you’re in the middle of it yourself, it’s harder to see that.

I’ve been troubled for the past, I don’t know, maybe decade, by what to do with my life. I had a great run with PR in my 20s — loved it! Exciting career, travel, cocktail parties, gallery openings, loads of fun. But somewhere around 30, that changed. I don’t know if it was having kids and different priorities, or if I just got bored.  But I just couldn’t see myself doing it forever anymore.  This left me with one huge question — was I qualified to do anything else that would make money and not require a huge pay cut? (Does this ring a bell with anyone?) 

Those questions have virtually paralyzed me over the past three years. But like The Eagles song, I didn’t realize I had the key.

My husband suggested I take a look at everything I’ve done in my career and point out any of the things I actually still enjoy doing. And I realized that, like Cheryl, it’s the writing that I really love, not the broader public relations.  It’s the one part of my work that I really look forward to.

So with this new-found clarity (thanks baby!), I’m recreating myself. I’m focusing on the part that makes me happy, and not what everyone else thinks or wants me to do with this life God has given me.

You might say I’m pulling a little Madonna. Minus the cone boobs, of course. 

I want to hear from anyone else out there that is stagnating and wants to create a new direction for themselves. Wassup?

Written by Jenn on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 5:26 am
Filed under Career Change, Jenn.
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