Thoughts of a worn out mind...
Most kids day dream about doing cool, interesting things with their lives. For example, I have cousins who range in age from 8 to 13. In a recent family gathering, the adults asked my cousins what they wanted to be when they grew up. They're answers were...
Patrick, age 8 -- a "bug scientist"
Emily, age 10 -- a pianist or a ballerina
John, age 11 -- a professional motorcross rider
Brent, age 13 -- a writer
Bobby, age 13 -- a pilot
In hearing my mother tell this story and laugh about the prospect of my cousins becoming these things... a "bug scientist"? ...it occurred to me that I never had any such whimsical career dreams as a child.
When I was 3, I wanted to sell watermelon at a fruit stand because I loved watermelon. By about 7, I wanted to be a lawyer because... to be honest, I don't know why. I don't remember what prompted the dream back then, and now that I am a lawyer, I'm having a hard time remembering what prompted the dream even four years ago when I applied to law school.
It's really all I've ever dreamed of becoming, and yet... as I sit here thinking about what I'd like to do with my life, this isn't it.