What do you want to be when you grow up? Of the million questions you are bombarded with as a child, this is probably the most asked. I had no clue what to say every time someone threw that at me. Honestly, I was too busy going through the motions of everyday life to actually stop and think about what I wanted to be. No, I wasn’t doing anything which every other kid my age wasn’t doing. I just never made the effort to think, to really ask myself the question. And what do you know, like every other Tom, Dick and Harry of my generation, I too ended up being an Engineer.
Somewhere deep down I knew that was the path I would eventually end up taking. It made sense at that point in time too; after all my father is an Engineer so I might as well be one I thought. Honestly, back then I failed to realize how important a decision this was. And it cost me, this naivety or inanity call what you may. Or, did it really?
At a time when I could have gone off the beaten path, I simply ended up following the herd. I let my parents decide for me because I had absolutely no idea about anything. And why not since, up until that point in time, I had relied on them for everything. With them I knew nothing could go wrong. They were my safest bet. I was also wary of making the effort to test the waters, doing something entirely different so to speak. So here I am today working as a Software Engineer in a reputed company, a company I don’t really like much. But that’s a story for another day.
As a child what you aspire to be seems to be on every person’s agenda, something they really want to find out about you. But once you eventually grow up, nobody even bothers asking if you are satisfied being what you have finally become. Nobody cares if you are happy being what you are today. Right now, sitting and typing this in my cubicle, I wonder if the person next to me really wanted to end up here. Or, like me he too just followed a sequence of events laid out on an overused path?
No, I didn’t take a detour or followed a path less frequented. Am I better off? I don’t know. Who knows what could have been? I do know this though, that I am happy being where I am and with what I have. Do I want more? Well, sure. Who doesn’t? But the key word here is happy and that has to count. I might not like my place of work but I hear that’s a given in any field.
Yes, perhaps what I do for a living isn’t my passion. I mean testing if someone in Australia gets his smart meters connected properly doesn’t really excite me or make so much of a difference. But it’s alright. It could have been worse.
It took me some time but I have found love in writing. So, maybe I didn’t take up creative writing or literature to major while in college but that shouldn’t stop me, should it? I do recommend people taking the path less trodden because that’s how we evolve. But I think it’s okay to not do so as well. Contentment is more important I think. What I don’t find doing what I do as a software engineer, I make sure I find while writing and vice-versa. All in all, a good trade-off between the two.
What do you say? Is it so bad if you don’t go off the beaten path?
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Linking this to Write or Die Wednesdays hosted by Vashelle of Shelly’s Cabaret and Mia of The Chronicles of Chaos.
Prompt for this week is:
Hi Naba! I'm so happy you joined us for Write or Die Wednesdays. I can relate to so much of what you said. I too took the conventional path… and while I'm not overly passionate about my career choice, I take pleasure in writing as much as I can. "Safe" has its merits. But I'm ready to break out of my routine a little bit. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your story!! xo
Naba sometimes you come up with thoughts that completely resonate with me. We are from a generation when aptitude wasn't given as much importance as it is now. The primary idea was to be capable of earning a living which you are doing admirably enough and you have your writing to make you happy. I think that's a good balance. Many people go through life without discovering what makes them happy or maybe they do not have the luxury to make time for it. So you didn"t do so badly.
Naba – I know just what you mean. I worked for nearly 10 years following the conventional path. Then one day, I had the courage to up and leave. And have since tried out so many different things. I was blessed to have been single at the time and have the support of my family. It doesn't work out that way for many. You're doing a great job of giving an outlet to your passion and creativity.
Often I wish I had taken a more beaten path. Not that I don't love the experiences I've had, but now…10 years later…I long for some of the comforts that the beaten path would have provided. Hopefully, I can work toward a balance in the next few years.
I went off and did my own thing. It's neither good or bad–it's just a choice. I wouldn't change anything.
I can so relate to it because I was going through the exact emotions few years back. It left me frustrated and angry with life. I feel this is the point where one needs to make a decision and stick by it no matter what. I also feel that a change of scene or workplace would help immensely. I do the same job but I love it now and I am glad I left whatever was bothering me at that point. I sincerely hope you will find your calling and a much much better place where you will enjoy your passion and source of livelihood too :).
It's a pleasure to join you guys and share stories Mia 🙂 You are right safe does have it's merits and yes, I can veer off path for sometime but I need to be closer to my safety net most of the time I guess 🙂
You nailed it Tulika…Aptitude has only become something to think about now…10 years back it wasn't so…But as you say I think we are okay as compared to going through life not being able to discover what makes us happy…
Thanks Corinne…I guess as long as we are happy everything else works out for the best..Moreover having a family to support our decisions is a blessing and that makes it easy further
You know at times I romanticize what it would be like if I hadn't taken the beaten path..So, I guess for everyone the grass is greener on the other side..But if you are happy , you'll definitely get the balance…Thanks for dropping by!
I agree to many of your points Nababitha.. I too landed up in software job just like that. but it has some positives – more time to spend on my hobbies, flexible work schedule, saturday and sunday off, nice pay and on the top of it my passion to test. Software testing is kind of different job where you learn new ways to test and find defects daily, learn finding flaws in new technologies, learn how to think as a customer etc., So, enjoying my choice even though i didnt take it for a reason 🙂
Now that is what matters at the end of the day, right?
Thanks Rajlakshmi…I remember reading about how you changed your job and now you are in a happy space… Well, maybe one day I'll also love the place which gives me my livelihood…hope the time comes soon!
Awesome Mahathi…It's so good that you found your passion in software testing…Now that's a reason to celebrate 🙂
Same story here Naba! I think this is happening with everyone these days. By the time we realize what's our calling we are already on the train for the destination we don't want to go!
I became an engineer too as I did not know what else to do at that point of time and everyone around wanted me to be an engineer. Once I finished college and joined my job, I knew that this is not what I wanted to do all my life. I did enjoy my job but I felt something was missing. That's when I started my blog and soon writing became my off beaten path. And I could not be more glad 🙂
Honestly, I think you have to follow your path and experience life as it comes. Every time I have ever tried to "plan" something it ends up a unmitigated disaster. I just end up going off on a tangent. I never aspired to be a writer, still here I am doing it of my own free will. Huh…wonder what my teachers would have made of that!
Honestly, I think you have to follow your path and experience life as it comes. Every time I have ever tried to "plan" something it ends up a unmitigated disaster. I just end up going off on a tangent. I never aspired to be a writer, still here I am doing it of my own free will. Huh…wonder what my teachers would have made of that!
Story of my life! But then I love to cook, write and dance 🙂
I think after completing school,engineering,medical or pure academics were the only choices that we understood then.Parents took pride to see their kids enrolling in reputed colleges and getting good jobs to earn a living.I also ended up choosing engineering.But the best part was, that along this journey,I could understand whether I liked the stream I had chosen or my choices resided somewhere else and eventually work towards my passion wholeheartedly.
Very interesting read Naba… I have changes directions too.. during life.. Its an amazing feeling when you sense that what you do in your everyday life, is what you really want to do… Big hugs dear:-)
"All in all, a good trade-off between the two." That is amazing, and I think 100% accurate. You going down the engineering path allows you to pursue the fun, unknown paths at your leisure. Which is great, because if you had to rely on something like writing as your main career path, it probably would be more stress than enjoyment!
Well, it ain't that bad, when you take that road.. I mean what choice do you have anyway to be feel happy about it. Yes, there will always be something that we will want, and that only leads us to a path called perfection or may be the end or may be help us discover what we truly want..!
Writing is one vent that I discovered a bit late though, but I am happy I did 🙂
Cheers
True Nibha…I guess there is something wrong or missing in the process or way we chose what we want to do for a living 🙂
Writing is such a blessing and therapeutic right? Glad we found that, didn't we?
True Kathy…I guess that's why I left it to my parents…Everytime I plan something , it just doesn't work out 🙂
And that takes care of the desire and passion part of what we want to do, right?
That's wonderful …. I found the love for writing and that balances the disinterest of engineering for me 🙂
Hugs right back at you Eli…I have found writing and I try to do it everyday …And yes it does make me happy 🙂
Thank you so much Chelsea…I love what you said here ' if you had to rely on something like writing as your main career path, it probably would be more stress than enjoyment!'
I think that makes the most sense, the most!
You know in the course of this discussion I have found that 'if you had to rely on something like writing as your main career path, it probably would be more stress than enjoyment!' So, yes I'm also happy I found writing 🙂
Thank you for sharing this for #WODW, Naba!
As someone who took the road less traveled, I would say that there is GREAT value in taking the beaten path. You can always enjoy writing…anywhere, anytime, anyplace. It's something that can't be taken away from anyone, ever. But stability (career and financial) offers peace of mind, and I don't think it's easy to come by if you're working in anything that has to do with the arts.
I forgot where I heard it, but I wish I heard it a long, long time ago rather than recently. I'm paraphrasing here, but it was something like:
"Find a job that fills your pockets. Find a hobby that fills your soul."
Thanks for joining us! 🙂
-Shelly
http://www.shellyscabaret.com
Life is always a middle path.. between practicality and passions. If both match, then nothing like it, isnt it ?
But age is never a barrier for anything we ever want to do. We just need to want it enough 🙂