a call for bright ideas!

[maybemonday]

So I've been reduced to reading through the list of UNC-Chapel Hill graduate schools and trying to intuit from their names whether they're A.) something I'd enjoy, and B.) something you can get a job in with actual decent pay, so I wouldn't just waste two years of time & tuition. I've been looking at Library Science, but with the economy the way it

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[emk]

Ever considered selling window coverings? (yes, that was a selfish suggestion, as is 'Full-Time Nephew Nanny and Sunday Brunch Pal')

It seems that your career is an important source of identity and self-respect for you. You also want it to be a source of passion and excitement. Things that I've known you to be passionate about: writing (mostly stories, both fiction and non), reading, belly dancing, the way that color/texture/light and other aspects of an environment impact mood or feeling (not sure how to capture that one -- encompasses everything from clothes to music to inspiring quotes or people), family and friends, learning about interesting or eccentric people/places/events.

I think, in the last few years, you've really grown in independence, confidence, tenacity, organizational ability, and understanding yourself.

Not sure where I'm going with all that. I'm not good at matching people to careers. I do know that sometimes a career is a source of passion for your life, and other times it enables the things you're really passionate about. It can be difficult to have it do both, but that doesn't mean you can't accomplish that.

Joel and I have discussed similar things for our own lives, and one of the things we concluded was that we'd like to run our own business. We didn't so much care that the business itself was something we were passionate about. The part we're passionate about is running our own business and doing it well. Also, our actual jobs don't matter to us as much as the flexibility our jobs afford us to do other things. Primarly having the *time* to do other things. We definitely have not achieved this balance yet, but it's our goal. Perhaps there is some similar abstraction that suits you?

[maybemonday]

What's been worrying me lately is that I've stopped feeling enthusiastic about much of anything for the past several months. Which makes me think I'm burned-out and in need of a career change, but makes it difficult to pick anything.

I've been thinking a lot about the career = passion vs. career = resource thing. Keep thinking back to this conversation I had at Salt with this kid who maintained that you could either be successful or you could be happy, and you have to pick one, because it takes so much to be truly successful in a career that you generally have to sacrifice happiness to get there. I.e., it takes a hell of a lot to be Diane Sawyer (or even Judith Miller), and you can't give a hell of a lot in one area without giving up a hell of a lot in another. Problem is, the key to success in so many jobs lies in networking. I HATE networking. And at this point, I'm feeling like the success (even if it came) just wouldn't be worth it at this point if this is how I'm left feeling.

More maybe when it's not 1 a.m. :)