Fulfillment

I've given a lot of thought lately to what I want to be "when I grow up". I'm a hardworking, well compensated, well appreciated consultant. I'm proud of my work ethic. I'm proud of what I've poured into my job. I'm proud to say that I have identified the steps I need to take to become part of the senior management. And, I'm being encouraged by the right players in that direction. The question is... is that enough?

I've always been free spirited and had a boundless, curious mind. Having had 2 orthopedic surgeries in the past 3 years and looking down the pike of a potential 3rd surgery, I've opened my eyes to understanding the workings of the human body. And let me just tell you, it's fascinating. Growing up, I changed my mind about my future career like most people change their underwear. Note: That means at least once a day. If you are shocked by that sentence, please open your eyes to personal hygiene. I wanted to be a paleontologist, a concert pianist, a psychologist, a car saleswoman, a sports marketing agent for the Dallas Cowboys, a forensic pathologist, a CEO, a professional singer, and most importantly, insanely rich for having accomplished nothing (see: Paris Hilton). Should I now add orthopedic surgeon to the list? The common thread in all these ideas (aside from the fact that a LOT of them start with the letter "P") is that they were fleeting thoughts to which I applied no effort. I never sat down and planned out the steps to achieve any of my dream jobs. And, here I sit, in my cubicle. I'm completing the tasks set before me and feeling more and more detached from the creative, inquisitive mind that I've nurtured for so many years.

When discussing this with great friends last night I received some simple but meaningful advice: "Take at least an hour a day and do something that interests you." And, that's exactly what I plan to do. It may shift from day to day but I am going to learn the code needed to write the next top grossing app, pursue starting up a company, brush up on my piano skills, and continue learning about the human body. I'm finally going to apply effort to my "dreams" and see where it takes me because I don't want to grow old, look back at my life, and realize that I held myself back from being the best "me". Will any of these ideas really take off? Maybe. Maybe not. I might find that my sense of fulfillment comes from generating the ideas as opposed to implementing them. I'm sure I'll find a lot of things out about myself along the way and that is paramount in my journey to lead a fulfilling life.

I challenge you to spend an hour of your day engaging in introspection. Do you feel like there are aspects of your life that could be revamped? Are you headed down the path you want to be on? Are you fulfilled?

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