My Happiness Project: Finding my Lobster…..

I, like millions of other people around the world, can quote every episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. from beginning to end. I know the appropriate place to clap when jamming to the Rembrandts and “How you doin’?” will forever be my favourite pickup line. Recently I was procrastinating sleep and The One with the Prom video came on, with one of the best Phoebe moments. Ross is Rachel’s lobster!

While Phoebe is referencing relationships, I find that my career lobster has been much more elusive. He’s my white whale, if you will (right now I’m picturing myself attempting to catch a giant white lobster, which is hilarious because my idea of fishing is a bikini, a boat, and a copy of The Great Gatsby). I worked my ass off in high school to get college scholarships, worked my ass off in college to graduated Suma from the Honors College (as well as recieving an Honors in Writing award, of which I’m pretty damn proud) but that doesn’t mean I had ANY clue what I wanted to do. I spent a few years as a stay at home mom and then a single working mom who taught preschool. As much as I love kids, I realized after a couple of year that’s not what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve always loved politics and the environment, which is how I ended up in an MPA program concentrating in sustainability. And finally, after years of drifting, I think I know where I want to be. I spent my Saturday afternoon working in a warehouse for the non-profit with which I am interning, covered in concrete dust, and I loved every minute of it. Non-profits are doing amazing things in this world, whether they be NGO’s in third world countries, or small organizations in our own backyards. I had more than one amazing moment this week where I realized “This is it. This is my career lobster.” And for someone that has felt a bit like a career nomad that past few years, that is an amazing thing. So don’t give up- your lobster is out there if you haven’t found it yet.

Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t know where I was going. I’ve met the most amazing people on this jourey so far, and can’t wait to see what’s ahead. Not all those who wander are lost. 😉

Photo Credit: Fanpop