If you are a long-time reader of Sweet Apple, you have probably noticed that the post The Spontaneous Idealist has remained one of the most popular, all-time posts on this site.
I wrote this piece on a whim one night, never to realize how important the topic would be. Especially to a 20-something. It is a confusing time. We are expected to pick the career we want to do for the rest of our lives and more importantly, we want to love that career. We want to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning. But quite often, those jobs come with little security and inconsistent income. It feels like a lose-lose situation and this is disheartening to all of us little, ambitious beings.
In the comment box of The Spontaneous Idealist, people wrote me detailed messages about their lives and the difficulties they were facing. I feel bad that it has taken me this long to reply. The reason I haven't, is because I knew these readers wanted answers. I wanted answers when I wrote the post. But honestly, I don't have them yet. I keep waiting until I have lived enough and learned enough to give a decent reply to those confused souls. Also, I am careful with the advice I give out on this sight. You may notice that I talk about things mostly from my own perspective and if you can relate and want to do as I do, then let's party. But if you don't, I wouldn't ask anyone to follow my path. We each have our own lonely journey and I am simply here to say that this is life, and it is normal to feel this way. But I am not here to give you the cheat sheet. By doing that I would be cheating you.
Saying that, I do intend to write about how I have made the spontaneous idealist personality trait work for me. How I have learned the valuable gift of self-acceptance, love and respect. And how once I learned this, the stars behind my eyes began to glimmer and glow brighter.
My Dad gave me some advice once, as I sat beside him lost and unsure of my future. Staring up at him, asking him to pick my path for me. Begging him to push me one way or another.
It's ok that you don't know what you want to do yet, just do something of value. One day, when you sit before an employer, asking for a job, they are going to ask you....'what have you been doing?' Make sure you have a decent answer for them.
I see now that this was valuable advice. I may not use my PhD, I may become a writer or a stay at home mom or a professional dog walker, god only knows. But when people ask me what I have been doing with my days, I have something of value to share. I can show that I have the ability to work hard, follow my dreams and that I have a brain in my head. You don't have to do a PhD to prove this. Working hard at a job or a treasured hobby shows the same.
It's ok to not know what you want to do with your life right now. Just do something of value. Do something that makes you passionate. Even if you have to work a desk job, but you want to be a writer, just write whenever you can. Do a course or surround yourself with others who love the same thing. We don't need to be paid to create and add beautiful things to the world. We just have to do something. And it only takes one person. That one influential person to see your passion and love for life and what you do, who then thinks 'I want you working with me.'
I work a full-time job in the paediatrics department, and when I come home I work all evening writing my blog. My unpaid blog. Because I love it so much and I want to improve my skills as a writer and there is only one way to do that. To write. All. The. Time.
If I just happen to get paid to do it one day, then that is a bonus and that is the dream. But that dream will never be a reality unless I get off my arse and write. If I wait for someone to come along and hand me a book deal, just because I want one, I'm in for a rude awakening.
I watched the Ted talk below by Meg Jay the other day and I think it holds some valuable ideas. Thinking we have all the time in the world to figure out our dreams is a dangerous trap that leads to procrastination. What if we all just did something of value. What if we took that course we have always wanted to, or joined that club, or applied for those jobs we always wanted to try, or traveled to that life-changing country.
What if these experiences are not supposed to last forever, but are there as steps to lead us in the right direction.
Much love,
Your Sweet Apple XX