I Never Had A REAL Career!

[hnooe]

Two other couples were at dinner Friday night..while having after dinner drinks on the porch the conversation turned to having jobs VS having a career. Of the six, I did not have a CAREER!!! My parents both had careers, my Dad was an electrionic engineer with the gov't starting as GS nothing and ending up in the GS "teens" before he passed. My Mom was a school teacher for many years, then progressed to Principle...

I have had a great education, I had a lot of jobs that I loved (and I LIKED all of them), and they all have been "related," I have made some great "lateral" moves...but I have had no career. How will my obituary read ?..." "he stayed gainfully emplyed for many years at many different jobs?"

Maybe this "mattered" to the Boomer generation, and the one before?

 

[sunspotbaby]

My Daddy always told us "You've got to learn a trade"
Some of us did.... I have a sister who's a nurse, one's a teacher, one's a hairdresser. Brothers are mechanic and farmer.

What am I? "A Free Spirit"

 

[Mermaid]

Does it "matter" to you about jobs vs careers? Worry about pleasing yourself, not anyone else. And it's not like you're going to be reading your own obituary, unless of course your real name is Tom Sawyer. ;-)

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Two other couples were at dinner Friday night..while having after dinner drinks on the porch the conversation turned to having jobs VS having a career. Of the six, I did not have a CAREER!!! My parents both had careers, my Dad was an electrionic engineer with the gov't starting as GS nothing and ending up in the GS "teens" before he passed. My Mom was a school teacher for many years, then progressed to Principle...

I have had a great education, I had a lot of jobs that I loved (and I LIKED all of them), and they all have been "related," I have made some great "lateral" moves...but I have had no career. How will my obituary read ?..." "he stayed gainfully emplyed for many years at many different jobs?"

Maybe this "mattered" to the Boomer generation, and the one before?

Are we the the sum of our titles after we take out last breath?
I think not. Sounds like to me you have a life

 

[kathydwells]

From my perspective you have done well for yourself. A lot of people cannot say that they have loved/liked all the jobs they have had in their lifetimes, so that is a blessing for you. You say the jobs were related...to me that is a career. You are blessed enough to live in paradise, which is a dream for me, and a lot of other people. So it does not matter. Obit...forget about it. You won't be around to see it anyway.....

 

[Sand Angel]

Careers are over-rated! I am also well-educated, but do not have a "career." Do what you love, which is probably related to your degree(s). Also keep in mind that we all do whatever we need to do to continue to live here in paradise, and usually that does not involve having a career. What it does involve is using your education and abilities creatively to carve out your own job here. In my case, I could leave the beach for a "career" but chose to stay where I am. I probably make less money, but I think it is a good compromise. Everyone is right about the obituary. It's not likely that you will be reading your own, but it should say that you lived a happy life, full of family and friends and always did what you loved to do (even if it did not involve a career).

 

[bluemtnrunner]

I think LIFE is a career. My husband is a chef and I, like you have had many different jobs. However, we both have continued to educate ourselves and increase our salaries and improve our reputations.

Career = @#$%ing long term job

 

[Goddessgal]

If having a "career" makes people proud and gives them sense of purpose, great! But it sounds like your life already has meaning, purpose, and you haven't put yourself into a box or corner---just enjoying life and learning about yourself? I think it is much more important to allow yourself to have many different learning opportunities - which it sounds like you have done, through your different jobs and education. Perhaps your "career" has been in diverse experiences, learning, and loving life! Sounds good to me! And maybe your other dining companions secretly envy you for trying different things!

Cheers!

 

[Bob]

you are your own security. let go of what others think, and if you catch any negativity from "friends" about any lack of said career, give them the pink slip.

 

[NoHall]

I hope I never have a real career! (So far, so good...)