What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

This really means What do you want to Do, but you get the idea.  We all had dreams when we were children, of what our lives would look like when we grew up (whatever that means!).  From Mommy to Cowboy, Doctor to Princess, Fireman (or more PC nowadays, Firefighter) to Astronaut, we had visions of ourselves in the future and I am not assigning a gender to any of these!

Some of us came to this planet and this life with a clear idea of what we should do.  My youngest son was just a toddler when he grabbed the microphone at a talent show and wouldn’t let go.  He was able to verbalize in grade school that he knew he was born to entertain.  With twin vocations of acting and video game testing, he’s definitely living his purpose!

My boys’ father, from whom I’ve long been divorced, was one of the few people I knew at the time who was able to say he loved his work.  He was an “air balance technician”, which meant he worked on heating and ventilation systems and corrected air flow problems.  He once stated that his purpose in life was to make people feel comfortable, and I remember wishing that I knew what my life purpose was.

So I grazed and dabbled, trying out different jobs.  I have been a newspaper reporter, server (waitress, in ancient terms), gas station attendant, school teacher, community support worker and a volunteer in many, many different settings.  I’ve never known what exactly I should do, so I tried things.  Work was like a smorgasbord and I nibbled here and there.

I remember when I was in my late twenties I took a book out from the library called “What Colour is Your Parachute?” and it was all about identifying the traits your ideal job would have.  I diligently filled out all the questionnaires and I remember some of the traits I was looking for.  I didn’t know then about Divine Timing.  It took another twenty-five years to finally manifest it!

I wanted to do some office work because I like to type and file and organize and create documents.  I wanted to be around people in a superficial way, being friendly and sociable and giving them good service.  I wanted variety, as this Gemini mind gets bored quite easily.  I wanted flexibility so my growing family’s needs would still be met.  And I didn’t want to have to get up super-early.

Last fall, after a job contract ended, I had the opportunity to take some time off.  I was a little restless and anxious but did my best to enjoy having time to myself.  Then a family crisis hit, and I was so grateful that I didn’t have a job to contend with.  I was able to take care of myself and the emergency, and eventually everything fell into place in the best possible way.  The time was approaching for me to get back to work.

I kept an eye on local job sources, and applied for the occasional job.  Several times after an interview, I called back and asked to be withdrawn from consideration, as the job just didn’t feel right to me.  Twice, the prospective employer said to me, “Are you sure you want to proceed?”  That to me was the universe shouting at me to be SURE, and not take a job out of fear, panic or habit.  So both times, I said, “Since you have asked me that question, my answer is No.”  I felt that the universe was giving me a sign and also an opportunity to be awake and clear in my decisions.

Then I saw a little ad one day, and I kept looking at it.  On the last day, I applied, and by the next morning, I was hired.  I get to do some office work:  answering phones, typing, making reservations, organizing the filing cabinet.  I am around people:  welcoming tourists from all over the world, and supervising students and volunteers.  My duties are varied:  sitting at the computer or checking the safety list, counting money or making tickets, running reservations over to the nearby restaurant or organizing the volunteer duties.  I work six days a week during the summer but can get time off in the winter and spring.  And twice a week, I get to come to work at 3 pm!

I was determined this time to take a job for the right reasons, and I am so glad I held out.  I trusted in my angels and the universe to bring me what I really desired.  I am now the train manager and office assistant at the Kamloops Heritage Railway.  I really love my work days.  I learn and grow and connect and have fun. 

The week after I started my new job, I was walking down the street and saw a sign with a saying many of us are familiar with, and ALL of us want (see below).  To me, it was yet another sign from the universe that I had taken the right job.

Visit our website at www.kamrail.com and also like our Facebook page!  Our amazing steam locomotive is 100 years old this year.  Locals, stop by and say hi.  The rest of you, I hope you will visit Kamloops one day and take a train ride into the past.