Reading, reading, reading....and more reading.

Okay so I think I may be on to something. As you read in my last blog, I've got some ideas in my holster that I could use in my career path-- or should I say my Path to Self Discovery. "Laugh out loud." Well since I started out on this venture, I've had so many ideas and plans that have crossed my mind. After much speculation (while I push my glasses up on my nose) those are the passions that I have narrowed it down to.
I've been reading tons or articles of young entrepreneurs who made it big, and even about some who just made it. From homemade dog food, ice cream trucks, fashion and technology, I'm so inspired! I'm also reading this amazing Book called 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. This book has given me so much insight into making my dreams into a reality. As he is coaching me along with the wealth of wisdom and life experience, he keeps challenging me. "Time is the only resource you can never recapture. Are you spending or investing your time? Remember: a goal is a dream with a time frame on it. ...be confident you can live out your dreams. don't settle for less!" (pp. 58-59)
He talks about the difference between a job, a career, and a vocation and he does it from a christian perspective. It's very interesting. He says the average person stays at a job for 3.2 years and then looks for something that just might leave them feeling a little less miserable and hopeless. That means that over the average lifetime, a person can have 14  to 16 jobs. That's absurd! It's so much wasted time! I am realizing that so many people I know (including myself) are wasting the years away at jobs that they really have no business working."So although the job cannot be the critical definition of your vocation or calling, it should be an expression of that calling and an integration of your ministry." (Dan Miller p. 40) That is the kind of job I want. It's time to make a shift in the course of my career.
But lets look at what he says about a career and vocation. This is some good stuff guys.
Your vocation is the most important of the three because it incorporates your calling, purpose, and destiny. This is the big picture that many people never identify for themselves. It is your vocation that will leave a legacy. In the bible God gave Moses specific plans for building the tabernacle in Exodus. (Exodus 31:6, 35:30-33) When he received these orders, he said "Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel...He has filled him with God's spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut every kind of artistic craft." This was not just human ability, but Godly wisdom and understanding. Your vocation will flow from your heart when you have tapped into Godly wisdom and dared to venture into your dreams.
A career is a line of work but not the only way to fulfill your calling. You can have different careers at different stages in your life and actually two or three careers can support your calling. Bet you didn't know that did you? Before I picked up this book, I didn't know it either! For example, let's say you have a calling to help people somehow. Well your list of careers could include: teacher, nurse, counselor, pastor, writer, politician etc. We really need to break out of the mentality that we just get any job that comes along while we are waiting for our purpose to be fulfilled. That is the wrong mindset. Who made the rules that our job cannot line up with our calling? A perfect example is in the life of a man named Paul who has an amazing talent to beautify buildings, houses, churches, floors etc. He has a gift that is used as a career as well as fulfilling his call. He completely remodeled the inside of Victory Outrech Austin and it is an amazing sight. The detail, care, and love that this man puts into his work is evident. Your occupation and your call should go hand in hand. It's no suprise why so many people are miserable at work. I'm not saying you need to quit your job and persue your dream to be a movie star. I mean come on, use some wisdom. But while you are where you are, find within your self who you shold be. What I am learning is that once I have filtered out all of the other meaningless "8 to 5" jobs that are wasting my life away, I can make room for the call of God and work to support my future at the same time. Makes sense doesn't it? Any questions?

What's Next?

^2-11 "Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That's what the Quester says.] There's nothing to anything—it's all smoke.
   What's there to show for a lifetime of work,
      a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?
   One generation goes its way, the next one arrives,
      but nothing changes—it's business as usual for old planet earth.
   The sun comes up and the sun goes down,
      then does it again, and again—the same old round.
   The wind blows south, the wind blows north.
      Around and around and around it blows,
      blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind.
   All the rivers flow into the sea,
      but the sea never fills up.
   The rivers keep flowing to the same old place,
      and then start all over and do it again.
   Everything's boring, utterly boring—
      no one can find any meaning in it.
   Boring to the eye,
      boring to the ear.
   What was will be again,
      what happened will happen again.
   There's nothing new on this earth.
      Year after year it's the same old thing.
   Does someone call out, "Hey, this is new"?
      Don't get excited—it's the same old story.
   Nobody remembers what happened yesterday.
      And the things that will happen tomorrow?
   Nobody'll remember them either.
      Don't count on being remembered."  Eccl. 1: 2-11

In life, there are simple moments that pass by so fast and can seem like they are unimportant and they go unnoticed. It's the simple conversations or seemingly strange coincidences and even daily routines that slowly steer us into our futures. We face situations and thoughts and ideas every single day that can either help or hinder us into heading the right way. But what is the right way? This is the exact question I often ask myself. I hate not knowing what's going to happen in my own life. I want my life to count for something. I mean, it's my life and  feel like I have every right to know what's happening! That's my frustration speaking. Do I trust God? Yes. Is it easy to trust God? No. The bottom line is that I am not happy with where I am in my life.
I may not have climbed to the top of some exotic mountain, run for public office, or even won a popularity contest. I may not have done alot of things but I have done enough to know that it's not enough. There has to be more! I'm only 24 years old and I want to do more. What is my purpose? What is my personal role in this world? It's the routine that I am sick of. Waking up every day doing the SAME thing over and over.
This is where my blog was born. I have so many things that I want to do. I hate the restrictions of working for a "company" that doesn't appreciate my life. I can go to work everyday and even possibly escalate  the corporate ladder but ultimately never get anythere with self value or personal achievement.  A career is a line of work but it's not the only way to fulfill one's calling.
King Solomon called it all "smoke" or "meaningless" and even "vanity." The persuit of happiness brings alot of heartache. I understand it may not ever happen the way I want but sill won't stop me. I want to persue my dreams! I refuse to waste years doing something that I am not passionate about. Just becasue you can do it, doesn't mean you should do it. No more excuses and no more holding back. It's going to take time and strategic planning but I will seek advice, read books, and save my money.There are many things that I am good at doing and even some things that I can do very well, but what are my passions?
-I love the Lord! Church and ministry is my life.
-I love to write. I love to use words to paint a visual image of what I want to get across.
-I am an artist. I love to use my hands and my imagination to create.
-I love fashion and beauty. I may not always have money for it, but I love it!
What do I do with this? I'm not quite sure yet. I'm continuing to gather all the pieces of this scattered puzzle and eventually I know the picture will begin to make sense. For now, it's a slow start but just watch and see. I'm going to do this and the only thing that could stop me would be me. I need support and encouragement as would anyone who is about to step into the unknown.  If there is anyone reading this, I need your encouragement. That's not too much to ask is it?

I've always wanted to be something GREAT

"^9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.  ¹⁴ I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
 ¹⁵ Whatever was, is.
   Whatever will be, is.
   That's how it always is with God." Ecclesiastes 3: 9-15

I remember when I was younger how I firmly decided that one day, I was going to be a doctor. I was a senior in High School with big dreams and I was determined to be something great. I had the desire and the resources available to see this dream become a reality, but I also had a few obsticals preventing me from actually doing it. I was in a damaging relationship, full time employed selling Inusrance, and a full time student. The combination of stress coming from all sides ended up being a lethal recipe that I indulged in daily. While I had these high ambitions, there was a huge void in my life that I could not get around and it was the one thing that would bring me to a sudden hault.
No wisdom.
I look back at the choices I made in all areas of finances, relationships, education, career and although I had a good start, it was the finish--or rather the temporary set back, that was proof enough for me that I had a lot to learn. I was so sure that I knew it all and I knew how to get to where I wanted to be and so I never sought help or even stopped to map out a plan of action. I was like a train going full speed on railroad track that was missing entire pieces of the rail. This train was sure to crash and sure enough, I did. I never finished college thus, I (ahem!) am not a doctor. We've all heard it said before "If only I had know then what I know now..." oh the painful truth in that statement! The entire course of my life would be dramatically different if only I known then what I know now.
Well, set backs happen to all of us. Can I get an amen? It's like I mentioned just a moment ago, this was not a finish but a temporary set back. My plan was not God's plan and for all I know, He is the one who removed those rails. After several lessons learned and some wisdom in my pocket, I think I'm ready to get my feet wet in the ocean of opportunity. I know I won't be a doctor but really, I don't even want to be a doctor. I just want to get some glimses of who God wants me to be and ultimately, I know it will be great.

And so it began...

So, there I was going about my business as usual-- this 24 year old girl who spent way too much time thinking about what life held for her, and not enough time actually doing something about those thoughts. You could say I was just walking along in life like the rest of you when suddenly I discovered that I had no idea where I was going. I knew I could not possibly be the only young person in this world who had this huge dilemma called "the future" that fell right in her lap! I had to figure something out.
It's seriously a scary thing to be a single young adult and have all these empty gaps in the future that ironically are filled with who, what, where, WHEN and HOW. These piddly words were turning out to be the biggest curtains that were hiding so much from me! (not to mention the most annoying words!)
This is where we begin my journey of self discovery. This blog is by no means any attempt to try and help people or give you ideas about how to find yourself. That my friend, is your problem. You can consider this an invitation to join me while I discover who I am. I am not a high profile celebrity and I'm not striving to be a huge name in the game. I'm just trying to make my life count for something.
Let's see how is plays out.