Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Mid-Late 20s Musings.

Ahh, "spring"! (I say "spring" because it says spring on the calendar, but it's hovering around 40 today. Love you mean it, Ohio).

It's just about time for my semi annual post, and since I'm on spring break (insert crying from joy emoji), I have time to think and write. Yippee!

Since I start many a blog post and finish roughly 1/4 of them, I just want to cut right to the chase before the chalk paint I'm playing around with calls my name again. I feel winds o' change a blowin', yet have no idea where they're blowing me.

In the post college/slow crawl to 30 (!!) years, I feel that the social norm is to generally have things figured out. Somewhat. Maybe settled in a career you enjoy, with the possible addition of a home, spouse, kids, succulents, pets...you get the point. Or maybe your slow crawl to 30 existence doesn't look like that--feel free to insert any combination of nouns you'd like.

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's a whole ton of you that are hiding out somewhere, but as a creative being, I don't know if I've ever felt truly settled. I've held a variety of jobs and had many wonderful experiences, but after a couple of years at said jobs I feel the need to shake things up a bit. Is that a part of growing up? The older I get, the more sure I am that what I want to do with my life needs to be something I'm passionate about. I feel that no experience is wasted, and that God uses everything we go through to point us to Him. Everything we do has a purpose, and I feel like sometimes that purpose is to show us WHY we're created. I know the ultimate purpose of my life is to love and serve God and those around me. But HOW can I use the gifts He's given me to better serve Him? Or am I serving Him in the best possible way now? (Apparently it's 20 questions day).

I know these thoughts I'm having aren't unique, because I know that many of you have gone/are going through the same things. Maybe being a "career chameleon" is more prevalent among creative types? I don't know.

Here are things I DO know:
-I love to teach. I love all of my littles and their families so very much, but I feel a strong pull towards my high school kids and the theater program at my school. Over the past 3 years I've forged amazing relationships with the kids, and I can see their passion for theater growing. Theater is in my blood, and I get no greater joy than sharing that with the next generation. Having to focus on both preschool and high school gets a little bit lot tiring, and I often feel like I can't fully concentrate on one area.
-I love to craft. I try to DIY the crap out of everything I find, and if I see something I want at Hob Lob, I usually think "I can make that." When I get really busy, I don't get to create lovely things as much, and that makes me really sad.
-I want to be a stay at home mom...when we have kids. This is really important to me. I'm the type who can't stay idle for long, so while baby is napping I'd love to be doing something that makes a little money for our household/something I can do from home. I'll need a little something to keep me connected and creatively fulfilled.
-I love people. I love making and baking things and sharing those with people around me. 'nuf said.
-I love weddings and parties. One of my dreams is to be the "craft captain" that brides go to for their special day (I'm still working on a more official sounding title). Some people just don't have the time or patience to DIY things for their wedding, so they'd come to me and I'd make all of their crafty dreams come true! Wee!

I don't know what all of this means, but it feels good to just throw it all out there. Basically I need a job that involves theater, DIY things, and potentially staying at home. (Oh and coffee whenever I want). This is an exciting/nerve wracking/changin' time for Ben and I, and I'm trying to be patient and enjoy the ride. I'm trying my hardest to trust God with these thoughts and desires, and to rest in the knowledge that He's got it all figured out. In the meantime, lemme get back to the chalk paint.

Thanks for listening to these ramblings, friends. Since it's 20 questions day, let me leave you with a couple...

-Are you living out your dreams right now?
-If you could do annnnyyyything in the world, what would it be?

Stay lovely!

-D