Happy Tuesday, my dears.
Thanks for checking out another edition of The Girl October blog. I was about to say, I’m still your premiere source for fun and informative pet topics–but that’s my other blog! No, this post is far removed from the subject of animals, and more in line with what we humans have to deal with, at least five days a week, (even more, for some).
And what would that be, (as though you even need to ask)? Why, working of course! Going to a job. The nine to five grind. Doesn’t matter what you call it, it all amounts to the same thing. It’s that place where you’d rather not be, but your bills and obligations demand that you show, (or at least it feels that way). Now what I’m talking about here, isn’t the situations where people love what they do. I’m aware that there are people who adore the industry they’re in, and thrive accordingly. No, this post is for those of us who’ve yet to find that awesome situation, or haven’t figured out how to make it a reality.
This subject was the inspiration for my unpublished book, currently on Kindle Scout, entitled “The Institute”. It follows the story of Bridget Foster and her best friend Donnie. Both are recent college graduates who come to find that working life, post-college, isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Should it feel this monotonous and meaningless? Is this what we’ve all been groomed for since elementary school? Feeling depressed and despondent, after quitting her miserable, first post-college job, and enduring seemingly endless months of unemployment, Bridget gets a life-saver thrown her way, in the form of her old high school friend, and town screw-up, Tobey Wopat.
Wopat, having left their hometown years ago, after a scandal that made local headlines, is now an orderly in a mental institution, and invites Bridget to enroll as an intern, (after hearing about her job situation). Seeing her options as limited, and wanting to get away from the woes of her personal life, Bridget accepts Wopat’s invitation, and unbeknownst to Donnie, signs him up too. What goes on from there? Let’s just say that things get a little crazy. But isn’t that what’d you’d expect in a mental institution? In case you’re wondering, their story does have a happy ending. Everyone eventually finds their way. That’s what I want to be true for us all.
I know in real life, endings aren’t always packaged in a pretty little bow, and problems aren’t fixed instantly. It’s painful when you’re not sure which way to go. I know. That’s why I wrote the book. It’s hard when you feel dread once the alarm goes off, and even worse when you feel utter nausea on the drive in to work, because you hate being there that much. I’ve been there too. Luckily I’m not in a situation quite that sucky anymore, but I still understand that feeling of not being fulfilled by my nine to five, and feeling I was sold a bill of goods, as far as going to college and landing some great career afterwards.
Most of us discover that we’re just showing up somewhere everyday, exchanging our time and energy at some place we don’t like, so that we can be paid to have the basics, (plus, more if we’re lucky). Ugly, but true. So should we keep lamenting? Naw. Let’s not job-bash, (if that’s what I’m doing). Jobs can be great. Jobs can be blessings. Jobs keep roofs over our heads and food on the table. Jobs allow us to have medical insurance. Jobs give us vacation money, and can buy awesome experiences, (when they pay well); and what one person might consider a job, another might consider a career. So, really jobs are neutral. What sucks to one, may be totally awesome to another. It’s really about finding and becoming a part of a vocation that fits you. The job just is. It neither sucks, nor is it awesome. It’s only that way according to our personal preferences, capabilities, and what we want out of life.
It’s hard to find that vocation that fits when you’re expected to make such a huge decision as to what you want to do for the rest of your life, when you’re just eighteen years old. Most of us end up picking something that we think’ll pay well, so we can live a certain lifestyle, or pick something our parents or other people think we should do. Every now and again, some lucky teen picks a career that truly suits him, and can stay in it until he’s sixty-five; but most of us aren’t that lucky. We might have to change jobs/careers a few times before we get it right–if we ever get it right–but that’s okay. My point here isn’t to depress you–it’s to challenge you to never give up.
Like my character, Bridget, have the courage to look in unconventional places to find what you really desire to do, if answers don’t come easily. Explore your interests. Keep your day job. That’s fine–until you find something better, (for you); but be a seeker–be an adventurer when it comes to discovering something new and awesome in the world, and more importantly, in your own life. As one of my fave authors, Elizabeth Gilbert says, follow your curiosity. Everyone doesn’t have a passion. But everyone’s curious about something. Start there. You don’t have to travel to a mental institution in Utah to discover your path; but remain open to what your “mental institution” opportunity might be. Invite all possibilities that lead you to a greater destiny–and you get to define what “greater destiny” means for you. I wrote a book. I write a blog. I’m still finding my way. Let’s see where life takes us.
That’s all for now, I think. If you’re interested in reading “The Institute”, please take time to nominate it on Kindle Scout. If I’m selected for publishing, everyone who voted for me will get a free copy of the e-book. An excerpt and my bio is available for viewing at Kindle Scout at the link below:
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2FVXITQ6OP33F
Thank you guys for all your support. I love you all. Have a terrific Tuesday!
Let’s be our best selves!
Girl October (AKA Jaslyn Jordyn)
