Work and jobs. Roles. They change.
Time brings different opportunities.
Opportunities bring change.
Change = growth.
Or so I have learned over the years.
When I was younger I never gave a whole lot of thought about what I would do someday. Maybe I was shallow. Maybe I just lived in the moment. Maybe I was naive. Yes, that is a certainty and I still am naive about a great deal of life but I don’t make excuses for that. I just live. And it works for me. At least it has so far.
I ran across the picture above the other day and it got me to thinking about all of the “hats” that I have worn over the years. They all seem about a hundred years ago. My life is not the same as it was even 5 years ago let alone 25 years ago but I count that as a joy.
When I was little I wanted to be a nurse. Small problem. I can’t stand the sight of blood. To the point that I faint or get woozy when I see the smallest amount. Ask any of my family and they can attest to that. So I had to give up that dream.
Over the years I have had my share of “jobs”. A LOT of volunteering. Babysitting. Dairy Burger employee. Newspaper typesetter. Office manager for a family owned mat board company. Church secretary. Small group and outreach coordinator.
Other hats I have worn over the years include daughter, sister, wife, mother, surrogate mother, confidante, supporter, cheerleader, teacher, mentor, writer, assistant, cook, housekeeper, caretaker, crafter, advocate, and the list goes on and on. Everyone has the same type of list I would imagine. It is what we do as women. We assume the roles that need to be assumed. We step in and step up when need be. We do what needs to be done and we are there when we need to be there. It is just what we do, isn’t it?
There is nothing that can prepare any of us for what may lie ahead. Somedays I just have to stop, slow down and take a step back to concentrate on what the task at hand really needs to be. So many things can pull me in a billion directions and even though I do not have a conventional job these days where I work a 9 to 5 day I still have plenty of things that are calling my name and asking for my time.
I seriously doubt that I am alone in feeling this way. There are so many demands on our time each and every single day and how we decide to spend those hours sometimes is out of our own control but isn’t it nice when those days come that you can put on the hat that you really want to wear for the day? I know I love those days.
15 Comments
Leave a commentI’ve had various jobs too and enjoy living in the moment. I’m really enjoying the “hats” in my present “wardrobe” 🙂
You wear them all well, Donna, and it is fun to look back over all the jobs and roles we play, isn”t it? Thanks for stopping by!
Ah, yes. Very true!
Thanks, Marla! It is true for all women, don’t you think?
Yes, definitely. Women have SO many jobs to do!
I didn’t know you’d worked in a newspaper office. One more thing we share in common. You would have been typing my stories when I handed them to you fresh off my manual Royal typewriter.
As women, we’re always changing hats…so true.
This is such a nice reflection on life. It is triggering some memories for me! One thought I just had was in my teenage years I babysat for children out on a farm. The father had a grain wagon with a load of corn sitting outside and it began to rain. He called and asked if I could drive the load into the shed. Fortunately I was a farm kid and was able to save his day! BethAnne, you really know how to trigger memories! Nice Blog!
Thanks, Rhonda! We all have those memories sitting back there in our minds, right???
Very well put! You’re such an inspiration!
I agree. We grow with everything life throws at us. We are supposed to. We never know what is next.
I´ve done so many things too. Some days my head spun with all the things I had to do. But now I miss being so busy. Life is funny. Enjoy your business, You seem to balance things out very well.
Very encouraging! I like thinking about it as wearing different hats. This is especially a cute hat.
The Kentucky Derby awaits that bonnet.
I think by the time we reach –ahem– a ‘mature’ age, we’ve all worn several hats. All of them good, some for only a short time, some for what seems like forever, but they all shaped us into the women we are now. By the way, that is one awesome hat. It reminds me of the ones we tried on at Churchill Downs. Kentucky Derby style!
It was an awesome hat. I usually look like a big dork in hats but this one made me giggle. I really liked it. It was in a room of hats at a historical house the bloggers went to that I have yet to write about. So many things to write and so little time!