Challenge Wednesday #25

My future blog roommate, Tracey from Control the Chaos is here this week, so I am going to let her take it from here... 

#  #  #

A couple weeks ago, Jen asked me this question:

What did you want to be when you grew up?  Are you doing that...or did things change and take you down a different road?  

that's me, rockstar

Sometimes I like to look back on my life and trace how I got to where I am today. Sometimes the journey seems almost circular, sometimes long and hard. And yet I nearly always see the influences that shaped my decisions and led me down certain paths.


When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor. I have always been fascinated with the inner workings of the human body: how the different systems seamlessly work together to keep us breathing and moving every single day.


And then someone told me I couldn't. Because I am a girl.


And I believed him.


Dude. Why did I believe him?


So I went to college and got myself a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in occupational therapy. That was enough for me; I still got to dissect a cadaver. But even then I had planned to go into orthopedics and hand therapy. And then we moved to Hawaii and through a long set of circumstances I ended up in pediatrics. And I've never looked back.


Now I realize it was a blessing and part of a Bigger Plan, because I couldn't imagine that kind of life now. I love having time for my family and following other passions, and I don't think I would have as much freedom if I hadn't chosen the career path I did. When my husband decided he wanted to become a pilot, I was easily able to pick up and follow him literally all over the globe and still maintain a career. Some places we only lived for 6-8 months, and even then I easily found work, because my field is always in demand, and although it is a technical degree, the area of occupational therapy is so broad that I have nearly limitless opportunities for settings where I can work. 

I sometimes consider going back to school and becoming a physician's assistant, which would allow me to do doctor-y stuff without all the school or hassle. But then I think about how I am already doing something I enjoy, and (I feel old saying this) I've been working in it long enough that I am considered an expert in my field. And time and again my crunchy self has aided my professional self, because I have a lot of knowledge about alternative diets and medicines, and that knowledge is proving useful with some of my wee clients.


The path is often not direct, but the journey usually matters more. I'm happy with my path and my journey, and I don't think I would change a thing.

The biggest question is, though, is your path taking you where you want to go? Or are you just enjoying the ride and not worrying about the destination?

Thanks, Jen, for encouraging me to write my story. I would normally give you another challenge or question for next week, but instead we are going to do something slightly different. With upcoming launch of our new website, Intend to Live, we are instead going to trade blogs and share what this new partnership means to us, how it came about, and what we hope for the future. It will be great fun.