Have you ever wondered what your dream job is? I do all the time! Do I have my dream job? Should I pursue a new dream job? What would it be if I’m not doing it right now?
In fact, I just had lunch with one of my good friends, Toni, and we talked about this a little bit. When I was working on my Master’s to be a speech pathologist, I realized early on that my dream job was to be an entrepreneur or so I thought, specifically to have successful businesses online that would allow me to have a lot of flexibility. I think quite often of what my dream job would be and I must be doing it because I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do at this time. There is no doubt about it. BUT my office is lonely…..soooo quiet. It’s just me and Bentley . There are certainly benefits to this….no distractions, no office politics, extremely efficient work…maybe too efficient though. Now that I think of the benefits, lonely doesn’t sound so bad….but lonely it is. What else would I like to do in addition to what I do now? I think maybe it would be good for me to do charity work or something where I can give back. I think some of the most fulfilling jobs are those where people work with others and can make a difference in their lives. That is actually the reason I decided to go to college for speech-language pathology. I really miss that part!
What is your dream job? Do you have it? I love to hear about what people do and if it is their dream job. I still think it would be fun to have Martha Stewart’s job…it seems fabulous though I don’t know if I could ever get over the being in front of a camera part for TV. I would love all the craftiness!! For now, I’ll just go to her website and read what she is up to 
I went to school in Los Angeles and graduated with a degree in opera performance, knowing I WANTED to teach private voice. I taught college level voice for a few years, as well as little kids and I loved all age groups, but specifically wanted to continue teaching college age kids who planned on going into some form of music performance.
When we moved to Houston, I wasn’t able to get a job at a community college without my Maters (picky picky…lol) and decided to become a private contractor through the public school district and teach high school voice. I had NO idea then how HUGE music was in Texas, and I ended up LOVING it. I still do even though my roster is about 5 kids rather than the usual 30. (One year I taught 54, never again, tooooooo many)
I don’t make a lot of money, and I’m not teaching opera divas like I thought I would be by now. I teach insecure high school girls for the most part. And I feel like it’s so important for young girls to have a place to come where they can express themselves within an art form. My student’s love me and keep in touch with me for years after they’ve gone onto college, and I feel really lucky to have a special place in their hearts, as they do in mine as well.
I do get a few students every year who are incredible singers, make All-State choir (about 100 voices auditioned from literally every high school in the state…it’s a big deal for the kids) and go onto major in music. I have one girl currently attending Interlochen Arts Academy, and another who literally could have gone to Julliard, but chose Baylor to stay close to friends and family. And I just found out one of my girls from LA is in med school!
I LOVE my job. When my girls are a bit older, and in preschool/kindergarten, I’ll go back to my “full time” position at a new high school here in Austin. Full time work for a voice teacher is usually about 20 hours a week. Poor me, 20 whole hours.
That sounds wonderful! Those are great hours. I love hearing stories like this. Sometimes it is where you least expect it that will make you the happiest. I think it is wonderful that you are able to connect so much with these students
I wouldn’t know what it’s like to even have a job much less a dream job or a dream life either as a matter of fact. You seem to have everything and no end to where you get to go, how extremely nice places you get to stay at and it seems like you’re on a perpetual vacation. Oh sure you work at home and I’m sure you do an efficient job of it but just count how many times you’ve gone “somewhere” (including to your parent’s just to get away) just in the past year. That’s more times than in the entire 35 years I’ve been married. We don’t have money to do things like that with and probably never will. My husband works hard but I’m stuck out in the country with nobody to connect with and all of my family is gone and almost all of my hubby’s is too. You just have no idea how lucky you are. I’d give anything/everything just to live your life for about 3 or 4 months!! Months? How about a month? No it’s not your fault I lead such a lonely life but it still doesn’t change how I’d give anything just to get to do 1/100th of what all you’ve done in your short years of life and marriage!! I’m very happy you have everything you do and I would LOVE to have just enough money to start some kind of biz online and pray like mad I’d get lucky and it do well but truth is that will never happen b/c we just barely make ends meet and I wouldn”t even know where to start anyway if I did have some money to invest in an internet company. I’m sure I’d choose something that would take a big dive and die out in no time and then I would be busted and so disappointed I don’t know how I’d ever get over it after investing what it takes to start up any sort of something “solid” and a “sure thing”..if there is such a thing. Well I hope your life continues to be so great b/c at least someone is happy and has it made! I can’t be jealous of anyone or I’d be jealous of just about everyone!! I pray everything stays so great for you though. You seem like a very down to earth and compassionate and nice and kind person. It’s just that I read your posts and end up crying b/c I would give anything just to have a few days in your shoes!!
Oh, I feel really badly and hope I didn’t make you feel that way. That is not my intention at all! I really wrote this post to try to re-inspire myself and make me think and hopefully to inspire others to think about what they would like to do. I often think about this wondering what it is I’m destined to do. I think we all have a tendency to look at others lives and think maybe that life would be more fun than our own. Sometimes, I too wish I didn’t have to work and think how wonderful it would be in your position. I do understand being lonely. I live in the city but I work from home so I’m here a lot. I really believe we all can make changes to make our lives better even if in very small ways. Really, sometimes it is small changes that really make a big impact. How far away is the nearest town? Can you walk with someone in the mornings or go to a reading club at a library?
However, I will first start by saying I do know you can start a business with very little. It wasn’t long ago (about 6 years) when I was a college student who was swamped with school loans and I literally had no money (none and I’m not exaggerating) but I did have a strong desire to do something different. I grew up in the country where my parents worked extremely hard to make it so I get it! I had to work to get through college but felt I wasn’t quite on the right path. I really wanted to have my own business so I started really small and it just happened to grow. I taught myself everything from scratch. However, on another note, my mom pursued her dream in a different way and really knew that going to college later in life would be extremely hard to do because she had to work to pay for college but now is a teacher which is her dream job. She’s really great at it and loves it. I don’t know your situation but if you have a dream, I want to really encourage you to pursue them if it means a lot to you. Life is too short, right? I think you are worth it!
You are a sweetie and such a hard worker! Way to go on owning your business!
I have my dream job! It’s being a full time mom and wife. I grew up with a single mom who had to work, so when we started having kids I wanted it written in blood that I would not have to put them in any type of daycare. We have 4 kiddos, and I’ve never missed a thing! Now that our “baby” starts Kindergarten in a few weeks, I’d love to find something to keep my days busy, but only until 3:00, because at that time I am theirs. The other reason I don’t work outside the home is that my husband is military and we move a lot and Dad is gone a lot. We feel very strongly that ONE of us has to be stable. My kids are a pure delight to be around (even the teenager…most of the time!!) so our decision 14 years ago was the right one!!
When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher, a writer, a singer, and a mummy. I now teach full-time and write and sing on an amateur basis, so I like to think I’m doing okay, goals wise! I love teaching.
Your job sounds cool!
Cxx
I’m just curious as to what online business your own/run? Just wondering. =)
I really like to keep this blog family-oriented as a journal of our life with honest personal information so I have something to give to my children when they are older. With such transparency, I’m not sure I want my business names on here because they are well-known. I hope you understand
I had a teacher once say that “singing is 90% confidence and 10% talent.” I think that carries over into all areas of life. Life is a serious of actions and reactions. We chose to feel certain ways about things. Sometimes we have to make a conscious effort not to become envious of people who seem to have it all together.
I realized this recently when I came across a friend I went to school with who is now married to someone famous and has a pretty good opera career going for herself. I let myself be jealous for a second before I remembered a duet I sang with her. “The Grass is Always Greener” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqPLNRNLvbA this is obviously not us singing it, but I think it’s pretty telling, and true. It made me wonder if she felt envious of my life as a stay at home Mom, and occasional voice teacher. I have a lot more freedom than she does.
I don’t think we need monetary things and vacations in life to be happy. Many people have tons of money and are miserable in life. But people who are happy and successful should not feel bad in anyway for sharing their happiness with others. Especially if they worked hard to get where they are rather than have things handed to them.
I too put myself through school, had parents that told me I couldn’t go to college because we couldn’t afford it, but I was lucky enough to have a teacher tell me, “just get in, that’s that hard part, figure out how to pay later.” and I did just that. I took out loans, (government loans are not credit based so EVERYONE has the right to us that money) I eventually got scholarships, but even that wasn’t enough to pay for my private university and I worked very hard at a little retail job in the mall to cover the rest, as well as pay rent, and my car payment. Life was TOUGH for a while. There are endless means to change our lives out there, the internet is just one of those ways. There are online classes, financial aid, student loans, and a bazillion things we can do and try out there.
Life is too short to spend it watching others have all of the fun. Lizzie, if you aren’t happy with how things are going, there are many people that would be willing to offer help in the form of advice and friendship via the internet.
Take your hobby and make it your career.
Dream job… I would be doing all the communications work for a few small companies (customer newsletters, press releases, media relations, social media, PR and advertising etc.) and it would allow me to travel a little bit each month and work with interesting people…. but I would work part time (less than 30 hours a week) and make full-time pay!
Oh, I do think this is so possible for you!
I’m 100% doing my dream job. Preschool teacher. I had no idea its where I wanted/needed to be until it just happened.
I thought when I had kids I would continue to be successful in business, nothing was going to hold me back from the leadership goals I had in mind. But something happened during that short six week maternity leave and I never went back to ‘work.’
When I put my oldest in school two days a week (at the age of two..everybody needs a break!), the director eventually asked if I ever considered teaching. I don’t know how she saw it in me, but its the place I am meant to be. I occassionally reflect on what would have been…the amazing outfits are always first on my mind lol…but I always come back to the saying “People who aren’t happy are trying to live someone else’s life” and I’m glad I’m where I am.
You know its where you should be when it never feels like ‘work.’
Deleted upon request of the commenter.
Deleted upon request of the commenter.
Lizzie-
I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, that was not at all my intention.
In reading your other 2 comments I see that your “dream job” is actually to start an internet business. The amount you have is more than enough to invest. And you’re right in wanting to protect your investment and not lose it in something that might not work.
I’m sorry you’re dying and you are feeling so down as well. This is a public forum, so your comments are out there for all to read and comment on. I was reaching out to you in an effort of offering friendship. I’m sorry about your daughter.
Hmmm . . . bet you never thought the innocent question about dream jobs would lead to such drama. All I can say is that the title of your blog (which I love, by the way) says it all. You love your life and there is nothing wrong with that. Thanks for sharing tidbits of it with us! I admire the way you put yourself “out there” and hope that those who have negative things to say keep those comments to themselves!
Your thought-provoking question is one I ask myself alot. Right now I am a stay-at-home mom, but I know that one day I will work again and I have no idea what I will be doing. It’s kind of exciting to think about the possibilities!
As always, I look forward to reading your blog!
Well shock (kind of) Andrea-even though I had to write things I didn’t really want to put out there for everyone to read and asked the owner of this blog to delete them, (I thank you for doing so Mandy and God bless your heart!!) you finally see my side of my life that isn’t so good. Yes, I am dying. I just went to the doctor again yesterday and right now he thinks at most I maybe have 12 weeks at most *I choose to not die in the hospital but live out what time is left at home* but only God knows how much longer I will live. He can choose to prolong it but I’m really VERY sick right now and I’m in a wheel chair if I get out of bed for anything, I have to rely on someone to push me just around the house much less going to the doctor, etc. I’ve still been blessed with a good life up until I got Cystic Fibrosis. It’s not a good thing to have, I can tell you that much! It wasn’t too bad at first but with time it really got rough but it’s ok, I know where I’ll be soon and since I’m saved and a Christian, I’m not worried about that but you still never want to leave your loved ones.
That’s the hardest part of knowing your time is short and not much left now. I pray hard not to be angry about it and I’ve finally come to peace with it as I know that’s what the Lord would want of me!! 
One of my doctors never agrees with the other ones and says he thinks I may only have about 6 weeks left-so who knows? Nobody but God!! I doubt it’s going to be long now though. It’s too late now to try to start a business-I’m just too sick to work on anything but trying to hold myself together every day and not let my family worry about me! I don’t want them fretting over me or worrying over me!! I want them to “Celebrate” at my funeral (which I have already all planned out b/c I DO want control over how that goes!!) but of course it’s still hard for them knowing I won’t be here much longer. I truly want my funeral to be a big celebration!! No crying allowed!!
Only good memories-well that’s all we have so I want them to remember that on the day I go to be with Jesus!!
I still was blessed up until I got soooo sick about 2 yrs ago but now my time is running out but I feel very much at peace with it. We have plenty I am giving to my children even though my husband will still be alive and with them. I have had a lot in my life and been very blessed and “things” are not what life is about anyway and God tells us so in the Bible and earthly possessions is not what our lives are to be about and I’ve tried to live that way and hopefully succeeded in that but I stilll was blessed with more than plenty and just blessed in general!! I still have heirlooms and some great things to leave to them and I made each one a video and wrote them a letter about from the day they were born until now which I hope they will treasure always! I have 3 children and all 3 are totally different so I wrote to each one about how they are and were growig up when they were just tiny things until all the way through college but we still have one 13 yr old that will take it the hardest I’m sure so I wanted to be sure she understood I don’t want her to ruin her life being sad or worrying about me not being there! She has a WONDERFUL loving family and she’s very close to her dad & siblings & I told her to lean on them and pray for God’s help when she feels “down” that I’m not here any more and how sorry I let her down by not being there to see her grow up, etc.
I will be waiting in heaven for them but pray they will lead long and healthy lives and not die as I’m going to!! I just pray God will bless them with wonderful, good and happy lives and I believe he will-as they are ALL very well adjusted and responsible and hard working children that I hope I instilled a little bit into their lives as they grew up!! I just wish the best for them and I trust the Lord to watch over them and not to send them to me any time soon!!
Thanks for understanding now Andrea!!
Lizzie
I really enjoyed reading this forum! I’m a Certified Occuaptional Therapist Asst. and I love it!!! I went back to school at 26 finished when I was 28, had my son 5 weeks before finishing, (and somehow finished). I have the opportunity to work with all populations and settings and recently went part-time to work on new home and maybe another baby soon
I have to say I’m inspired by many of these women on here, and Congrats to you Mandy for doing so well, Blessings -Cindy