What you would do if nothing was in your way?

[04diamond<3]

I would resign and write full-time.

What's holding me back? I really love my job and I know if I leave it the odds are very low that I'll ever land a similar position again. I write part-time now, but my most productive (and satisfying) writing period was about three years ago when I quit one job and had a year before I started working full-time again. I'm finishing revisions on a YA novel, so now I need to send out queries and get me an agent! It's the first piece I've been serious about polishing, and I'm so lucky to have found five readers willing to give me great feedback.

I also fear that I wouldn't be as passionate about writing if it became my full-time "job". I currently savor the time I have to write because it's an outlet, so who knows how it would feel if it was my main focus. That productive period I had between FT jobs was still a short-term thing, and I knew it. I suppose you could say I fear my passion would ebb away if there was no limit to the time I had to write.

Haven! That's great!!! I'm so excited for your book to be published! That's awesome, what an accomplishment! Are you financially dependent on your job? I think if (i mean when) your books gets published, you can see how much that's bringing in and decide then if you want to do this full time. or maybe you continue doing this part time and stay at your current job part time? When I hear people (mainly those who write) having writing blocks, I always think of that movie Something's Gotta Give (maybe see that? ). Good luck!! Let me know how it goes!!

 

[04diamond<3]

Missy beat me to it... but I've always wanted to buy a huge farm and rescue animals that were bought for slaughter and let them live the rest of their lives in freedom and happiness. There is a pig sanctuary close by, and I just love that these wonderful pigs can grow old, happily knowing that they will never ever be cut up to be meat on someone's plate.

I also would love to be able to foster as many animals as possible so that none of them ever have to be put down! It's a long shot, I know, but a girl has got to try! And nothing is in my way, right?

Except in real life, dang money is the issue!

YT - what about for the time being volunteering at a shelter? is your DH against having more pets?

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

Missy beat me to it... but I've always wanted to buy a huge farm and rescue animals that were bought for slaughter and let them live the rest of their lives in freedom and happiness. There is a pig sanctuary close by, and I just love that these wonderful pigs can grow old, happily knowing that they will never ever be cut up to be meat on someone's plate.

I also would love to be able to foster as many animals as possible so that none of them ever have to be put down! It's a long shot, I know, but a girl has got to try! And nothing is in my way, right?

Except in real life, dang money is the issue!

YT - what about for the time being volunteering at a shelter? is your DH against having more pets?

I do volunteer actually, and I'm also one of those crazy people holding a sign in front of the circus or wherever against animal abuse.

And no... Sadly DH won't let us get more pets. And I wouldn't want to. I've thought about fostering an animal here or there but I know I work too much to be able to properly take care of the foster.

 

[madelise]

There are too many things I would love to do. Unfortunately, I can't blame money. See, the key thing that is in my way is time. If I had more of it, I would have the time to make more money, and have the time to do all the things I would love to do.

Madelise, I'm confused by your statement...You don't have enough time to accomplish all that you want, is that it? Just trying to understand

Yes. Because, according to the average life expectancy of a woman in the US, I only have 56 years left in my life. Considering the last two decades usually entails a lot of illness and weakness, I really only have 36 years. That's not a lot of time at all. Even if I had all the money in the world, I simply do not have the time in my lifetime to:

- start and finish graduate school
- serve the community and at least change 100 lives for the better in my field
- open my own successful clinic after a few years of experience-- which entails having to reinvest and reopen in case the first isn't successful.
- raise 2-3 of my own biological children, and raise them well
- spend enough time (and there's no such thing as enough time) with my grandmother before she passes
- spend enough time with my dog
- adopt a few more dogs in my lifetime, and give them endless love, home, warmth, food, and no worries

And all in the same lifetime:
- go scuba diving in Australia
- spend 2 months backpacking through Europe
- volunteer endless hours and endless love and kisses to dogs at a no-kill animal shelter
- spend a month in Iceland, and try every night to catch the Aurora Borealis
- live in Pakistan, and build a small school for girls there, and tend to them
- teach English and math to Sudanese orphans that have been displaced
- spend a few years in Taiwan, learning my family's culture
- learn how to properly read and write Chinese
- farm with the countryside people in Vietnam
- fish with the native Tahitians
- explore the rainforest
- climb Machu Pichu
- go to sleep and wake up on the different sands in the Carribean
- on that note, collect all the different colored sands of the world
- volunteer with Operation Smile
- adopt and raise properly a bunch of babies, like Angelina and Brad, except first focus on our own American children
- collect a bajillion sparkly jewelry

I only have one life. I would love to do so much for the world. I would love to do so much for myself. And when it comes down to it, it isn't money necessarily that is keeping me from doing all that I want. It's time. I have one life to live, and I mean to live it well. It took a lot for me to come to terms that I can't be everyone's hero and my own at the same time. My SO is from Pakistan. My heart broke into a million pieces when I found out about the injustices there against women and children. Besides the obvious danger and the protection needed if an American woman was to enter there and challenge the threats of the Taliban, and the money necessary, I just don't have time. I have my own life to live, and my own direct family to care for. I also very much want to adopt a bunch of children, but I want my own, too. I don't have the time to have or properly raise a million babies.

So if I just complete the top portion of my list, I will feel complete.

I hope my novel helped you to understand what I meant I get carried away often. Oopsie.

Madelise, I understand and you have a big heart. I admire that about you. I'm sorry about your illnesses (I've been there too) and hope that things are better now and continue getting better for you physically. I wonder if you're trying (or thinking) to take on too much? I know we all want to do everything we want but as you said, there just isn't enough time and for most of us money is also an issue. I think in your case maybe you instead of looking at what you'd like to do in a lifetime, how about baby steps? I know with the huge dreams you have it may sound too insignificant, but it all adds up...How about being a financial support to those girls in Pakistan? And supporting world vision etc? At least you are still helping them. As far as school, have you finished that? Are you applying to grad school? You don't have to tell me and you may have said it in other threads but I haven't looked. I always think that schooling in the medical field is never a waste of time.

Lastly, about your future kids. I know it's hard to think of how children are going to happen, but believe me, when the time comes, you will know! It is absolutely possible to have a full time career and bring up your kids well! Maybe find something where you can work from home part time...oh and vacations, I think it's healthy for a family to go on vacations together, so maybe make it a point to go somewhere every year.

I think a lot on your list is possible to do you just need to figure out what your top priorities are and start from there. I don't like labeling a life because then you stress about what you want to try and get done in that time. And I absolutely think you will do the top of your list!

LOL, the comment regarding the last two decades being filled with illness and weakness was directly in reference to the sentence before, stating how many years left I have if I use the average American woman's life expectancy. That means I should expect to slow down in my late 60's until my last breath. Fortunately, I have not spent my last two decades (basically my life) in illness. That would be very unfortunate.

And I was directly answering your question asked: what is it that I want, and what is in my way. I didn't know I can be thinking or trying too much. I thought the idea was to share what I would like to do if I had nothing in my way? So I answered. Those are all things I would love to do, except I don't have enough years in my life, and I have yet to figure out how to be in 5 places at once.

Yes, I am in the middle of a program and in the middle of an application round for graduate school. I am on track to complete the top portion of my list. Everything in the top of my list in in a plan to happen within the next 10-15 years, minus spending "enough" time with my grandmother and dog. I simply do not believe there is such a thing as enough time. I wish I can spend forever with them. But alas, responsibilities.


Technically, I'd like to say the same answer as Kenny; Nothing is in my way because I am doing it. Because it's semi-true! What I expect me to actually be able to do is exactly what I am doing. But this thread was asking for for reaches and reasons, so I gave my ultimate reaches and reason. Now, if anyone figures out how to live an endless life of youth, or how to be in multiple places at once, please get in contact with me

 

[jaysonsmom]

1. I would adopt a set of sisters who are waiting for a family in Ethiopia (older sister is 7 with severe cerebral palsy, younger sister is 2 and healthy)...and probably a few more children.

What's standing in my way?

DH, finances, our small 2 bedroom apartment on the 4th floor, finances, and the fact that I have to work so would not be home.

2. I would be an opera singer.

What's standing in my way?

My being out of the business for 3 years, having to be the bread winner for my family now, and a desire to be home with my family-especially my young son. In 10+ years (gulp!) it will be my turn to not work full-time and I can try to get back in the game, but I am not sure I'll have the talent or inclination to jump back in...we'll see.

3. Move to Ethiopia and do on-the-ground orphan care/family preservation work

What's standing in my way?

DH, finances, career paths

Bella, you and I so similar....at least 1) and 2). I have always wanted to adopt a couple kids from Africa, in fact I brought it up to dh again last night after we watched WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN EXPECTING!

For number 2, I would change it to Broadway performer vs opera singer. I have always loved Musicals, and have wanted to to perform in one...but never auditioned because I was never professionally trained.

Lastly, I would change your #3 to having more biological children! I'd love to have a couple more.....love, love love kids, whether they are biological or not.

The things standing in my way? Finances and dh. He is done having kids he says, and although we are okay financially, having more kids would cut our income by more than half (I make more money) because I'd have to stay home to take care of my additional kids

 

[04diamond<3]

LOL, the comment regarding the last two decades being filled with illness and weakness was directly in reference to the sentence before, stating how many years left I have if I use the average American woman's life expectancy. That means I should expect to slow down in my late 60's until my last breath. Fortunately, I have not spent my last two decades (basically my life) in illness. That would be very unfortunate.

And I was directly answering your question asked: what is it that I want, and what is in my way. I didn't know I can be thinking or trying too much. I thought the idea was to share what I would like to do if I had nothing in my way? So I answered. Those are all things I would love to do, except I don't have enough years in my life, and I have yet to figure out how to be in 5 places at once.

Yes, I am in the middle of a program and in the middle of an application round for graduate school. I am on track to complete the top portion of my list. Everything in the top of my list in in a plan to happen within the next 10-15 years, minus spending "enough" time with my grandmother and dog. I simply do not believe there is such a thing as enough time. I wish I can spend forever with them. But alas, responsibilities.


Technically, I'd like to say the same answer as Kenny; Nothing is in my way because I am doing it. Because it's semi-true! What I expect me to actually be able to do is exactly what I am doing. But this thread was asking for for reaches and reasons, so I gave my ultimate reaches and reason. Now, if anyone figures out how to live an endless life of youth, or how to be in multiple places at once, please get in contact with me

Well, I was thinking the way I do. When I think about all the things that I want to do, and what's standing in my way I tend to get depressed or saddened by it so I always try to think of ways to be proactive. Of course it's nice to dream and wish, and if there's just nothing than can be done, then that's it. But if it's realistic dreams and goals, I tend to think of doing...anyways. I definitely wish there was more time. People used to live a lot longer before there was pollution and other things causing more health problems. Who knows, maybe in the next 20 -30 years they'll invent something to extend the lifespan....We'll see I guess

 

[madelise]

With modern medication, lifespan has increased. I remember reading in Time that children born in the last decade should reach an average lifespan of 100. That's a 2 decade increase. Supposedly, with these advances, it won't just be an extra 2 decades of decrepit living. Supposedly, the future 80 year old will be in the health and capabilities of a current 60 year old. I find this fascinating.

They better hurry up. With retirement age getting pushed further back, I would like to actually have some retirement years to do "me".

 

[pregcurious]

Take lots of vacations in warm, sunny places with my family, fly first class, stay in nice hotels, and eat sushi, fresh fruit and vegetables at will. And get lots of massages.