Thursday, March 22, 2007

The Beauty of a Teenager

My daughter is in her first year of college. So far she's gone through 4 different decisions of what she wants to be when she grows up. A surgeon, a pediatrician, a lawyer and now, a psychologist. Recently she told me she's reconsidering this decision.....she feels she will be too confined in any of these fields and asked me where can she best feel free to express her depth of emotion out in the real world.

Oh I remember this stage well enough. I went through five different majors before I settled on nursing. And my last year at school had a considerable amount of "staying with it" talks to myself as I was ready to quit over and over again.

Yes, my job confines me. I have more passion in me than I'm able to express during my day. I want to curse at some of my coworkers, I want to make a face at some of them, ask them "Did you skip the line where they were giving out common sense??? Do you really need to waste my time with THAT??

But I control myself. And, I must admit, I don't have trouble with it. Know why??? Because I run.

It's when I run that I can really allow myself to fully let out all that I need to. I can focus on a strong thought and work myself through conversations, speeches and lashing outs until I'm all used up. I had a run like that today. I lost 3 miles being so focused on my thoughts. It was quite the workout of mind and body. I havent had such a great one like that in a long time. I'm happy to have it back.

And so, I tell my daughter.....Run, baby girl, just run!!

12 comments:

Jack said...

I echo your passion for running, it is the best therapy available.

As I read that about your daughter I couldn't help but think that I'm still wondering what I want to be when I grow up...certainly not what I do now (sigh).

JeffM said...

Amen!!
For me running takes care of normal stresses and hiking takes care of everything else.

MNFirefly said...

I hope your daughter finds her calling. It took me many years...and some. I see running having the same analogy too. Running takes one to places that we have not been before. It's SO much fun to go to places I have been before.

Cris said...

Lora, I'm flying in tomorrow morning. If you have time tomorrow afternoon or evening, want to run or just hang out, call me 917 750 8370

Cris

Deb said...

Isn't it beautiful to find and feed our passions? Great advise. Go girlie!

Unknown said...

I made the decisions when I was younger to skip college because I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had thoughts of becoming a teacher, psychologist, senator, etc., but since I couldn't decide I told my mom and dad that I didn't want to waste their money. At the time there was some truth to my decision and also a little bit of being afraid and lazy to do the work when I could be out partying. I'm sure your daughter will do great and find her way like the rest of us. She has a wonderful role model in you.

Una said...

Great advice!! My daughter Yahoo'd me last night while researching her paper, because she found the following articles: "Everything I learned about sex I learned from the teenagers on Dawson's Creek" and "Sexism, from 90210 to Dawson's Creek".

She then wrote "I LOVE my major!". She has no idea what she wants to do in her life, but she knows it has something to do with her major. It's a start!

runliarun said...

Common sense, someone said once, is not that common. I never heard running being prescribed to deal with the shortage, but it's easy to see your point.

teacherwoman said...

Ahhh, I remember being in her shoes! I left for college not knowing what I was going to do, with teaching elementary kids in the back of my mind. I started with generals, looking at early childhood, then psychology, then sociology, then to business, all before going back to the elementary education a few weeks before starting my 3rd year of school. Graduated with an elementary degree, worked for 2 years and now am back finishing up my masters in special education! Tell her to take her time! Enjoy it! I know I did, and will miss it come May!

Mike said...

Great post Laura...to be young again eh!? I remember going thru the motions early in school..i'm sure your daughter will land in the right place.
I can totally relate to your last paragraph..good stuff!

Travis said...

Yep, all this seems right and not that long ago that I went through the same thing. I'm not sure how I found my major, I just kept taking different classes until I decided, "yea, I like that." Then I realized that no matter how great or bad my job was,if I was not out pushing my physical limits that I felt confined and bored. Great post! I hope all is doing well and that you are getting "dialed-in" for Ice Age.

Una said...

Hope you're doing ok. Been some time since you posted.