It dawned on me today just how much I love what I do professionally. Typically, I gloss over things and am not very grateful because I am future focused and often worried about something else. In any case, today I was writing and explaining to a high school group what I do professionally. This was to provide insight into different vocations, the positives and negatives and how a day in my trade typically goes. With every sentence I wrote, I became increasingly aware that I really do love my job.
I have had many jobs over the years. Money at times was great, but I typically hated what I did, the sacrifices I made while I was doing it, and always resented the office bullshit and co-workers' petty, personality problems. Those days, thankfully, are now a distant memory. Five years ago when I started my business, I had no idea what lie ahead in the future. Five years later, I know. Today, I find my job so rewarding and to be truly important work. My work now, is profoundly meaningful. I get to help people embrace their health and improve the quality of their lives. I am not contributing to a company's bottom line, I am contributing to LIVES.
I always knew I was a "self-starter" as loosely as that term gets thrown around in job interviews and offices, but I've proven it by going into business for myself. I have put some long hours in over the past five years, but I have gotten more out of these past five years than the entire rest of my life. Knowing people intimately, understanding what their challenges are, understanding what makes them tick and how to get them where they want to go is a daily experience for me. I have learned so much from talking & listening to clients, their stories and different life experiences, that it rivals lifetimes of higher education from anywhere.
My profession allows me to intersect different races, cultures, ages and religions. People I would normally never have opportunity to interact with cross my path every month. I have forged incredible relationships with people that will remain in tact for the rest of my life. I had no clue that I would receive so much in the health and fitness industry. Starting my business was a huge risk, and interestingly, I did not enter into it with so much of a strong interest to do it, it was more of a "I can't do the other stuff" anymore.
Over time, I have built an "extended family" that have woven their way deep into my heart. When they win, I win, when they overcome obstacles, I overcome obstacles. I feel like I get to walk in a different pair of shoes with every new trail blazed. Tonight, when I go to bed, I might even give myself a small pat on the back (never do) and remind myself that by affecting change in people's lives is the ultimate paycheck.
