Yesterday in a comment I wrote the words, “coulda’s, woulda’s, and shoulda’s don’t help…” Sometimes they do, though.
While it’s useless and frustrating to think of the paths not taken, it does bring with it the ability to focus on the paths ahead, and the “wanna’s” that are still out there snaking across the great grassy plains to the horizon. Or hang a left—if you’re brave—and enter the welcoming quiet darkness of the woods, where baby steps instead of strides are taken to get deeper and deeper within. You can’t even see where it will end, and you must mark your trail with breadcrumbs of decisions, tie ribbons of learning on trees to locate the lessons when you must retrace your steps. Go slowly; you might lose your way if you don’t plan your direction at least a moment in advance.
To the right, the water beckons: Jump in the lake, get your feet wet, dive right in, get in over your head, sink or swim, or even build a boat and sail the waves to reach the other side. This is a quicker way to get somewhere no doubt, but filled with immediate dangers to overcome. But if you face the challenges and overcome them…well, there’s nothing like that feeling of triumph.
I still am wandering in the meadow, taking temporary delight in picking wildflowers along the way. But eventually I know I’ll have to pick an entrance point—woods or water, and leave behind the sunny warmth and comfort of the fields I am familiar with already. The cornflowers, daisies, black-eyed-susans, cosmos and blue chicory have formed into a big bouquet that will last a ways into my journey and keep my spirits up to overcome the doubts and indecisions.
I’m going to wrap a ribbon around my flowers come May, fill a thermos from the lake and pack a lunch. Then I’ll turn and head into the forest. I won’t be planning for a bachelor’s degree.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
This is a beautiful post. It describes part of the journey I am on right now. I think I am in the woods now, taking baby steps, listening to the sound of each footstep and trying to discern what to do with my education. I’m taking classes, but pondering if they are the right ones for me or are there others I should be trying? Maybe in a different city or land, even. Your imagery of the flowering meadow is such a wonderful one too. Those flowers will guide you and give you strength whereever you turn next. These words inspire me…thanks.
That’s one of the best things about weblogs–someone always manages to post something that is very close to what someone else is going through as well, or gets one thinking about something that they’ve been meaning to do themselves.
Kelly, while I personally have decided not to gear my continuing education with the thought in mind to earn another degree, it’s only because of my age that I’ve decided this. By the time I accumulated enough credits, I’d be too old (honest) to have a degree help me land a job. I much prefer the idea of taking courses that I really am interested in for my own self-improvement rather than waste time and stress out on subjects that are of little interest to be just to fulfill the requirments. Well-rounded is necessary, and a degree may be valuable and even necessary to someone who is younger. I want to take more Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, and New Media and computer courses rather than Biology, History, or Algebra.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll make the best choice for what is right for you.
Thanks Susan. I too am coasting right now and have not put pressure on myself to earn a specific degree. I am enrolled in a program, but it is part time and not too demanding. I take one class per semester and only if it truly interests me. Since I work at the university, my classes are free, so I am really taking classes just for the sake of learning right now. And loving it. I mean, why not? It is a great benefit of the job. I *might* get a second degree someday, or I might not. Either way, I am glad we are both exploring education and can bounce ideas off each other.
PS; I don’t want Bio or Algebra either…ugh!