What do you want most right now?

Well… that leaves me wondering - WHAT is your chosen profession? Inquiring minds would like to know!

Hugs!

-Susan

HEY brother RicH!!! ‘Hope that job comes yer way REAL soon there, my bud! ‘Will toss up a prayer or two fer ya’ (‘can’t hurt). Hang in there, bradda!!!

the OTHER rICH

I read you loud and clear, Rich. I can relate. I’ve been in manufacturing for years– lost a good-paying, interesting job in new product development and testing a few months after 9-11. It’s been low-paying, dead-end jobs ever since. The type of knowledge, skills and experience needed for the kind of work I’ve done for years has got to be some of least transferable attributes anyone can have when trying to move to another sector of the job market.

However, with the economy the way it is, I guess I’m fortunate to have ANY job. But there are days when the work is so mind-numbing that it’s hard to maintain any sense of gratitude.

So, when I leave the office, I try to stay involved in things that are more personally rewarding. And I make an effort to notice the pleasant things around me each day (rather than live only for the weekends). And last, but not least, I remain hopeful that something will change for the better, that I’ll be presented with an opportunity, that my Higher Power will send me a reasonably clear message that rises above the noise and half-baked ideas that come from my own limited mind.

My thoughts are with you, Rich, and I wish you the best.

Peace,

Mike

My daughter’s been working on a master in social work for almost a year now. She’s been working an internship this semester and has become a little discouraged with what she’s finding all the nuts and bolts are about. She’s even reconsidering her dream of being a social worker. It must be very frustrating dealing with know-it-alls and misguided higher-ups. To me it seems like a difficult thing to be objective in such complicated family situations. Different people need different things to thrive and it takes a truly unique person with the patience and resources to try and figure out what those needs are in each situation and find a way to meet them within the structure of social services. What works for one person may be useless to another.

It may seem odd but I enjoyed parenting my kids when they were teens. You’re right, it was good to be in charge, free to guide them in my own way. It gave me much joy to see them turn out to be decent and compassionate human beings and reasonably well-adjusted. I valued all their unique ideas and observations with respect. Too many parents and teachers fail to respect their children. I tried to respond to their different needs and feel rewarded that they have such unique personalities. I could never have taken my parents to a rock concert and I was too embarrassed to be seen with them. Which is why I am still surprised that my kids like to go with me to shows. But perhaps the best reward of all has been watching my son be a good parent to my two granddaughters. They’re blossoming in uniqueness under the care of their parents.

You have so much to offer young people. I hope you find the right situation where you can find some satisfaction using your insight to help them grow and thrive. (Foster parent?) I admire your willingness to help other people’s kids.

I’m there with you about not tolerating abuse. When relatives in my home have made some abusive comment to their children I always speak up and defend the child. At least the child will know that not all adults feel it is right to abuse them.

This comment is sort of OT.  When I read the bit about “doing something stupid to a child”  I sort of straightened up and felt proud of you.  I mean I absolute know “WILL be obeyed” is exactly the deal.  That’s because I trust you.  I’m also amazed by your ability to have a clear-eyed view of yourself.

As far as the dilemma of the addictions counselor scene goes, it’s a more specific subset of the more general problem of actually working in social service work.  But it’s precisely as an “outsider” or maybe deep insider that you would be particularly helpful.  That thought reminded me of a recent Malcom Galdwell piece in The New Yorker about Sidney Weinberger who rose to the top at Goldman Sachs in the 1930’s.  The article asks rhetorically  ”Can underprivileged outsiders have an advantage?”  The the piece went on to explain why they can.  Some of the same ground as why I’m sure you’d be so good in addictions counselling. 

But with your close examination of your talents, I was sort of running a parrallel inventory of my own.  I like children, I enjoy being around them.  I am patient with them.  And I love studying and reading about child development and about how people learn.  That last part made me a pretty good student in college education classes.  But the strange thing is I’m not a very good elementary school teacher.  

I went to The New Yorker site to look for the article about Sidney Weinberger from last month.  It turned out that Gladwell has a piece this week about teachers.  The shorter version is Gladwell believes we spend too much time worrying about teacher preparation, i.e., studying education in college, and not enough evaluating new teachers once they start teaching.  

Gladwell writes in an interesting way.   I don’t always buy what he has to say, but it’s hard to dismiss any of his writing out of hand.  I don’t really have a very well studied idea of the reasons I’m not a good teacher.  I get plenty of feedback and have gotten it over the years that I’d be a great teacher.  I wonder  in what context that might be true?  Anyhow, I’m not looking to get into teaching.  

Apart from it’s always about me, I think I mention my stuff as an example of how tricky the right fit for a job is.  You’ve got good ideas of where you fit.  I know it’s quite discouraging not to discover the job that matches and get it.  But I will offer what my Dad always says: “Chance favors the prepared mind.”

RicHIE-

You sound like an amazing human… I hope you find the perfect job to settle into. For now, it seems like you are doing a lot of good in the interim!

Hugs!

-Susan

Well, I wish you all the best in your job hunting and am confident that a good job that you have been hoping for would be coming your way. Keep on trying and thinking positive. Blessings, dear Richard!