Life, Day by Day

Frankly I don't remember talking what I wanted to be when I grew up.  It was always the adults around me who would answer..."a doctor!"...every time someone asked. And like a good mimic...I would say the same thing.  Of course, as the years went by the idea of becoming a doctor took root and when college came, I just went along for the ride.  But what did I really want to be?  What were my dreams? Well for one, I wanted to be a princess.  I don't remember who brought me to see Forever My Love (1962), a condensed version of Sissi, a 1955-57 film trilogy loosely based on the life of  Elizabeth, Empress of Austria .  What I remember after that is the fact that I was so taken by the idea that maybe I could be a princess.  I think I was around age 6 then, and later I was able to see the sequel (?) to the film which further fueled my imagination and dream of becoming one.  I would convert my bed into a castle, my blankets into long skirts and pl...

Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go. You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there." With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street. And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town. It's opener there in the wide open air. Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too. OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO! You'll be...

A few days ago, I was talking to some people I just met at a dinner party about my career and how I got to be where I am now. I said something about not really wanting to be a doctor but somehow as I plodded on in my studies, it was too late to change my mind. And then I talked about getting my MBA and being in my present job and so, one of them asked me if I was happy now...and I laughed and said, not really and that was when someone said...so what do you want to be when you grow up. That comment although jokingly said, hit close to home...the realization that I am still a work in progress...that inspite of being middle-aged, it is still not very clear to me what I really want in my life. I have said this years ago and until now I keep on repeating myself... that I know what I don't want...what I still don't know is what I do want . I envy people who dare take risks to go after what they want in life. I continue to see my life as one that is so predictable, so conscientiou...