All the things I still want to be when I grow up

There was an exercise during The Artist’s Way that asked to write down the lives you wished you could live. I loved this exercise, so I’m doing it again.

All the things I still want to be when I grow up:

• Author
• Painter
• Professor
• Swimmer
• Yoga Instructor
• Singer/Songwriter
• Pianist
• Illustrator
• Hiker
• Photographer
• Pastry Chef/Baker
• Bookstore/Cafe Owner
• Book Reviewer

Some of these take more education, some of these take practice, and all of these things require dedication.

I know I can’t be a “professional” about a lot of these, but I certainly can take little actions to get closer and closer. There is a habit we as a society have created to try and capitalize on the things we like. We try to find a way to make money off of things we already do. I think the biggest struggle I have is not thinking like that. I can do things just because I like doing them. I don’t have to be “good” at them or make money from them. I can just…do.

We tend to be defined by the job title we have. When we introduce ourselves to somebody, we often focus on what we’re bringing to our capitalistic society. When someone asks, “So what do you do?” it is assumed they mean “for a living,” and that means “for your living wage.” But how would you define yourself outside of that?

I am a writer. I don’t make a living off of it, but it’s the thing that lights me up the most. It’s what I want to be doing, whether or not it makes me money. Maybe someday that will be “author;” maybe someday that will be something else.

What do you want to be when you grow up?