Every now and then I have to pinch myself, sharply remind my brain that I’m actually incredibly lucky to do the work I do. OK, it is a 9 to 5, office based role. Sometimes it is really hard, with extra long hours, weekends and demands that aren’t always easy to meet. Overall though, I’ve managed to shoehorn some of my favourite things into a career, and for that I am grateful.
I work in the travel industry. It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. Actually, I work in student travel, so it’s really far from glamorous, more adventurous, challenging and inspiring. Let’s face it though, I’d take any and all of those over glamour every day of the week. In the office I might spend time writing and checking budgets, costing products, compiling itineraries or managing suppliers. There is a lot of admin and that could be said, albeit in varying forms, for any job.
The difference though is that the admin leads to something great, something that motivates me to get out of bed, sharing the world with young people.
You see, you can do anything you want with your life, but ultimately you will spend a large portion of your time working. There is no getting away from that; unless you’re parents are millionaires, then maybe you just hit the birth jackpot. So you might as well spend your time doing something you care about, maybe not day to day, but maybe in a broader sense. Find purpose in what you do and keep that in mind through the dull, rough and boring aspects.
If I could go back for a chat with my sixteen-year-old self now, I’d certainly be shunning the advice of the teachers that tried to guide me into high powered careers. Instead I’d ask myself what I love and what I actually enjoy spending my time doing. Then, I’d seek out opportunities that link to that.
I’d also remind myself that these things change. It’s normal to transition as you grow, develop and learn more about the world around you. You certainly don’t need to pick one path and stay with that, because you’ll likely wind up hating it at some point.
Of course, we all have to work enough to survive, but bottom line, don’t waste time doing something for the money. Find meaning in what you choose to dedicate your time to. Find a reason to appreciate the fruits of your labour. Dedicate yourself to something that ignites passion within you, and enjoy the journey it takes you on.
Featured image by John Schnobrich from Unsplash.
