I have my dream job. Not everything about it is perfect, but when I wake up in the morning, I have no problem jumping out of bed, turning on my computer, and getting straight to work. No brushing my teeth, no coffee, no music. My work is my caffeine.
I’m not boasting, but actually I am.
I can’t imagine what it feels like to wake up every morning and hate what you do. And the sad thing is I know so many people who do exactly that.
This month we’re talking about alternative careers, and the world of opportunities we are sometimes kept away from. Parents are right to worry about financial stability and job security. But children have even more to worry about choosing a career they have no passion for.
Not everyone has to be an artist or an actor to have his or her dream job. If you love finance (not just because of the pay), then join the corporate world. Why not?
But if all you can think about is the complex mix of ingredients in your arugula salad, then don’t suppress your desire to be a chef.
Not everyone has the luxury of pursuing a dream. For financial, or even personal reasons, we can’t all afford to take a gap year to ‘find ourselves’ and then start our own ice cream factory.
But we do all have a choice. And with the support of our friends, family, and role models in the community, we can find the right balance to sustain ourselves without having to murder our true calling.
I’ve always thought it cheesy when people say “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
It’s not true. You will work. You will work every single day, all the time, so hard, because you’ll not just be doing what you love, but you’ll be being who you are.
Even as the editor of a magazine I am constantly hounded by people, South Asians exclusively, who say, “Is that all you do?”
And I say with pride (and a hint of frustration): “It’s not just what I do. It’s who I am.”
Work is not a big bad wolf waiting to eat you up. It is not outside of you, but within you.
If you love what you do, you’ll work every single day in your life. And you’ll never once regret it.
