Job Envy

Whenever I see someone out in public who is wearing scrubs, presumably a nurse on their way to or from work, I get a slight feeling of jealousy. Not that I want to be a nurse (I don't think I'd fare very well in that environment). But generally speaking, you don't just accidentally fall into the nursing field. You have to decide that's what you want to do, pursue your nursing degree, and follow through on getting a job in that industry. It's not by mistake or luck or timing that a hospital hires you to be a nurse - it's because you had the desire, education and skill to do it. Chances are if you've become a nurse, it's because you've achieved a career goal you set at one point or another. And I get a little bit jealous of people who knew what they wanted to do and set out to accomplish just that. I imagine it's pretty fulfilling to be in that spot.

Not that I'm especially unfulfilled by my job, but it's not like it's this ultra rewarding, just-what-I've-always-wanted-to-do type position. I wonder if there is such a position for me, and yet at times I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be. I'm using the skills I have and being recognized for it. I enjoy the people I work with for the most part. My company has plenty of growth opportunities. And the hours are regular enough that I should even see my future kids on a fairly regular basis. So there really is no conclusion or epiphany to this post except to say that most likely in my case, I will never be 100% satisfied or feel like I'm fulfilling some deep purpose in my life. But as long as I keep my perspective on things, I know I have a pretty fulfilling life overall.

Memory Lane

I joined Facebook a while ago and I recently found the group for alumni of my old elementary school. I scanned through the members to find several "kids" I used to babysit for. And now they're all grown up! As in, high school grads in college or even graduated from college. Talk about feeling old! And besides that, in my mind they are too young and innocent to be making adult decisions that I know they're making.

It's also pretty amazing to see how they turned out. In most cases, they totally look like they did when they were five or ten, except more mature. It's so weird. Kind of nestalgic to think about, actually. I wonder if our kids will have innocent memories of childhood like I do. I'm sure they will, but sometimes with the media and "kids these days," you have to wonder and worry just a bit ...