So I have a little rant...I dont know why family, friends and loved ones feel the need to squash others dreams and goals just because it isnt something they would do...makes me so angry! Every person having different likes/dislikes, hopes and dreams is what makes life so interesting. Can you imagine if everyone liked exactly the same thing, had the same goals or worse, had no goals?? That is what i loved about bartending and waiting tables for years, the different people I met, listening to their experiences, their favorite things, etc! About 20 years ago I had a co-worker named Diane, she was 10-15 yrs older then me, married, 3 kids etc. I had a toddler, was broke and didnt have a clue what I was going to do. Diane encouraged me every day. Told me if school was important to me, some day I would get a degree. She was so non-judgemental, just a bright spot in my work day. I only worked with her for a few mos, but whenever I was having a bad day, I would think of Diane and how encouraging she was. Well Madison being the small world that it is, I would run into her thru the years at the Mall, at a sporting event, etc. Her kids grew up, married, etc. A few years ago I seen Diane and she told me her husband was battling cancer, I seen in the paper that he lost that battle awhile after that. I seen her a year ago in the fall and she had just put her parents in a home after caring for them for the last couple of years. She had told me she was looking for a new job, i told her about LinkedIn and told her i would help her anyway I could. I was so happy when she reached out a few mos ago. Her parents had passed within a short window of each other. She told me she wanted to finish her degree and asked if I had any advice on where to go. I was more then happy to help. She got accepted into Edgewood and could finish her undergrad in 1 1/2 yrs. Diane worked at the same big company for 20 years, but was bored silly, but said it allowed her to attend whatever she needed as her kids were growing up, then with her husbands illness, and then her parents. This woman is so giving. Well she emailed me earlier today to tell me that her siblings and her friends, over the holidays, told her it is foolish and a waste of time for her to go back to school. She is too old, she has seniority with lots of vacation time, just doesnt make any sense for her to go back to school when she will be retiring in 10 years. It made me furious at the same time as my heart was breaking. First of all, 10 years is a helluva long time to be bored at your job! Second of all, Loved ones do not know how influential they can be. Why cant people be encouraging? Why not say - Wow - that isnt something I could ever imagine doing, but GOOD LUCK! Or that is so cool that you are going to fulfill a goal, or you have done so much for everyone else, that is awesome that you are doing something for you! I get that going back to school isnt for everyone. Neither is starting your own business, getting some kind of license, climbing the corporate ladder, starting a job in a new field, etc. Starting/doing some of these things are scary and intimidating just thinking about, but just because it isnt something you would ever do, dont ruin someone elses journey! You are never too old to try something new, to go back to school, learn a new job, etc! I hope everyone has someone in their life to be their biggest supporter, a cheerleader, a motivator! And if you dont, call me, I would love to encourage you to do something you have always wanted to do! Remember - everyone is different, everyone has a different path in life, just because it isnt the path you would choose dont rain on that persons parade. Encourage them, be there for them - cuz I bet at some point in your life, they were there for you when you needed that little extra encouragement....
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:13:15 +0000
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