When I was a little girl I was told, “When you get older, you should so something that you love.”
When I started college my advisor told me, “Do something that you love. And that makes money.”
When I graduated college, my peers told me, “Do something that you love. That hopefully makes money. No matter what, do something you believe in.”
In searching for the perfect career, post-graduation, I’ve come across about a zillion obstacles. Most jobs require “experience”. Some pay great, but would require me to do things my heart won’t let me do. Some are fabulous and rewarding but don’t pay (volunteer.) Some are a 1/20394875234 chance, and since they can’t see my shiny face and good heart in my resume, the experienced shmo gets the job.
I did some soul searching. I wondered what it might be like to invent my dream job and then get hired for it. I knew I wanted something I was good at, but something that I could learn way more about and become a master. I knew I wanted it to pay me. I don’t need a million-zillion, but I do want to support my home in a good way. I knew I wanted to provide a good, real, true service to people. Something that would soften hearts. Something that might assist in the goodness and love and faith in people. I wanted something that required me to extend myself, kind of as a bridge between the people and the romance, you know?
It’s hard to explain.
My talents are caring, organization, assisting those that need, gifting, arranging, leading, logic, design, crafting and a few others. Kind of a lot of good-quality, random talents.
While I’m contemplating my career/job saga, I’m cutting and pasting. I think I was making a folder/organizer/dayplanner/reciept holder kinda thing.
Weird how I’m pondering my destiny as I’m holding paste in my hand.
Until I become a ceo of a huge organization that just gifts everybody everywhere, I’m starting my career path into crafts. If you are getting a mental image of Sarah Palin gluing yarn hair on a doll….don’t.
My crafts are mostly paper. I make photo albums, journals, recipe books, notebooks, stuff like that. To date all of my creations are unique, and make with recycled materials. I love to buy an old photo album from a thrift store for a dollar, slowly tear it to it’s bare bones and rebuild it with style, durability and usability in mind. It’s almost an act of respect, in a weird way: in addition to recycling materials, I’m giving a used item a new life. Maybe a photo album that held memories for 25 years deserves to be renewed. It’s a special and important job, holding memories.
So that’s what I hope to do. I want to be the vessel between people and their thoughts and memories. Maybe even between a person, their thoughts and another person. Making the tools that people use to store and communicate their most special life moments is nothing short of an honor for me.
As I begin this adventure, thus far, I only have one motto: do something that you love.
Love it! Great start and can’t wait to read more. You as Sarah Palin funniest image of the day, granted it’s only 9AM, but still funniest thus far.
Kelly, this is pretty cool. I like the concept, and as a poet and songwriter I am interested in a rustic recycled rebuild of a Journal to spawn and contain my dirty minds words. My step-mother, who you have met before, is an artist and has made me some awesome ones over the years, and I am always gifted nice leatherbound versions at holidays, but I would love to support your craft!
This is really great! It made my morning to read your raining day story! And I agree with doing what you love, you must be and your crafts are beautiful.
Living in Portland, I’m sure I’ll have more rainy day stories!