Career Assessment

Do you ever get the feeling that you are frightened into immobility?

I'm not quite there yet, but in relation to the job nothing - absolutely nothing - is happening. So this time is supposed to be a great opportunity to consider other options.

My only problem is paralysis of analysis.

There are all sorts of things I'm good at or would be good at given the opportunity. My problem is trying to figure out which way to go, how to reach my destination in a timely manner, and how to translate my various talents and gifts into a way to earn a living around here.

In talking to my pastor last week about the other matter, he asked me about how we were doing in relation to my being laid off. Told him that I was really trying to look at this whole thing as an opportunity to consider other paths. Then he asked me that fateful question - if I could do anything at all, what would I do?

Of course I know the answer to it - theatre and music. But finding a way to make a living in that industry around here is nigh impossible.

Originally when I was laid off, I figured I'd try my hand in some local theatre productions if I was still without employment by this time. Now that I find myself still without employment, I find my courage has waned.

I'm so far removed from the industry after twenty years in finance and my focus leaning toward my son for nearly seventeen years, that my connections to the majority of the industry have been lost. For years I haven't had the time to give consideration to it and now that I do have the time, I don't have the industry "in" anymore.

So now I need to figure out how to worm my way back in. I need a big confidence booster in that regard so that I can move into a new future, if indeed this is the direction in which I should move.

It all appears quite convoluted at times. So a good friend sent me a link to career assessment tools, which I muddled around in today.

No surprise there. Now the key is just finding a way to make it happen and earn a living at it.

Oh boy.

Tree Time Tomorrow

After having it for two weeks now, tomorrow we are finally going to have the time to decorate our Christmas tree.

In all honesty, I've had a little time available to decorate - mainly on this past Sunday afternoon. Didn't execute good time management skills and ended up sleeping and relaxing the afternoon away. Have to admit, though, I really needed that time to recoup.

Better late than never - so tomorrow is Tree Time.

The bins are in the house and ready to go with the decorations and lights. We've gotten a few chores done tonight and then finish up a few tomorrow. Then it's off to decorate!

Christmas is my favorite holiday of all - the lights, the colors, the music, the movies, the family time, the church programs...

...the meaning.

I love it when it's time to get out Mannheim Steamroller and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. By the way, TSO was in town last weekend. I just had to be in the play! Oh well, it was there I wanted to be anyway. TSO can always visit me on my stereo anytime. It isn't every day that I have a chance to star in a musical.

Truth be told, if I had my druthers I'd do music theatre all my days. Never gets tiring (remind me next year in November that I said that).

But I digress.

The cold wind is blowing tonight. There's another chance for more snow coming. Let it snow - let it snow - let it snow.

It is the Christmas season, don't you know.