Careers

I'm a big believer in constant growth. We teach our children that this world is a mysterious, exciting place, with more to learn and more to experience that you can dream of. Yet, somewhere along the way, even though we're still teaching the lesson, we no longer believe it. I think it has something to do with finding the almighty career. When you have a job, a shitty, soul crushing, if I do this one more day I'm going to take a bath with the toaster, job, you're future is still so brilliant. You're present is terrible, but it's only temporary. You have plans, you have schemes, you have hopes, you have goals. You may not even be one of those people who know in their guts who they are and what they should be doing, but that doesn't matter, because you can do anything. You can quit that shit job in the middle of your shift, leave the country, find something wonderful and new. You may never do it, but you can. And then you get the career. For most people it won't be a doctor, or lawyer, or police officer. It will be a career you never wanted to do as a child, that no child would ever want. It's in an office, dealing with the minute details of a company that really no one gives a flying fuck about. But it has great pay, good benefits, vacation time, and it seems...fine. It gives you all the things you need and all it wants back is half of your soul. Not even the good half. Not the half you use to feel love and compassion and wonder. Just the half with the passion. How often do you need it in real life anyways? Is it more important than a house, a new car, a vacation every year?

I'm a writer. It is in my marrow. But I am extremely human. If I find the career that isn't writing but will take care of me, I would take it. And I would lie to myself, saying I can still write, that it will still happen. But it won't.

So here's too shitty jobs at shitty restaurants until I find that career that won't take my soul.

Your friend,

Kris McGonegal