What Are Some Ways You've Re-invented Yourself?

Before I do a mini-bio... here's what *I* do:

I pretend I've won the lottery. Down to the dollar amount. (500 million is a nice round number... but I've done everything from a billion to 10 million). Then I portion it out (super fun). FOR MYSELF... here's how I would do it (sans details).

- Who I would give it away to and how much. People (family, friends, etc.), Organizations (charities, scholarship endowments, religious institutions, R&D in certain fields, etc.).

- What I would save (aka how much gets stacked away so I can live off of x% interest each year, how much into trust funds for my son, his children, my neices & nephews, ... and to have those trusts be separated into school &/or starting capital..etc. so forth and so on)

- Who I would hire (a maid, a maid, my kingdom for a maid! Lawyers, accountants, a masseuse, tutors, etc.)

- What I would buy (property, assets, clothes, medical stuff - like 10/20 vision, a new stomach, art, wine, james bond schtuff, gifts, frivolous things, noble things, etc.)

And then FINALLY after all the fun stuff is taken care of... WHAT ON EARTH WOULD I DO WITH MYSELF??? One can only do "nothing" for a very limited amount of time before becoming dreadfully bored.

For myself... here's my answer: I would travel the world taking pictures and writing, I'd surf, sail, snowboard, ride horses. I'd get my med skills/certs up enough for minor surgeries and Rx'ing powers (I'm particularly loathsome of having someone die in my arms because I don't know how to save them, and Rx's are currency the world over... a case of antibiotics to hand over to the local militia can save your life far better than driving around in a tank). I'd fund and go on archeological expeditions. I'd start a school (specifically geared for adhd/2e students). I'd collect art.

Now... here's the REALLY fun part: I CAN DO ALL OF THAT!!! <grin> I just have to do it a little differently -or- I have to do it on a slightly different timeline.

EX) I *can* travel the world over taking photos and writing... I just have to do it in bits; when and as I can afford to do so or as I can convice others (like my job) to be paying me to go. I can't surf regularly (wrong climate here)... but I *can* sail, snowboard, & ride horses (who needs a stupid gym membership? I'd rather spend $100 a month on those). I can't start a school for OTHER kids, but I DO homeschool (awww... look at me... being the change I want to see in the world ;). As for the medical & archeology... guess what I'm going to school for? Nursing, anthropology/archeology, & fine arts. Because I can't fund a dig... but I can sure as heck go on them. The "plan" in fact is as follows... be a part time professor at a college teaching 2-3 quarters a year. Spend 1 season on a dig doing double duty as an archeologist and staff nurse. Pad that season with several weeks prior and aft volunteering with a local NGO. And I can't collect "real" art (anyone have a spare 80mil for a Picasso? A few hundred K for a 2000 year old ring? A bribe to induce the govts of Japan, Egypt, or France to let me have one of their national treasures? No?)... but I CAN (and find perverse pleasure) in collecting forgeries. Signed by the forger whenever I can convince them to. :D

Beyond what I would do with my life; passions & desires... the other ares really highlight strengths and weakness for me'self as well. Like hiring a maid. I may not be able to afford one right now, much less staff... but it can DURN well be a goal to strive for.

I find that by playing the "If I won the lottery" game it's hacks through the mental mazes with a machete. All the "I could never's" or "Only a dream" schtuff that keeps me from *seriously* looking at something gets wiped away by the "game". Then I can look at my soul laid bare, and really figure out how to make the imaginary a reality. I play this game periodically, just to keep tabs on the part of my brain that doesn't speak to me on a regular basis.

Of course, I've had practice in completely shifting gears in the past. I wouldn't call it "reinventing" myself, but I've definitely made some very abrupt course changes in my life. Some willingly, some intentionally, some forced upon me. Briefly:

- I've scored near perfect on SATs and had colleges scouting me from test scores and publishings (short stories, novels & articles... and yes... word count has always been something I struggle with), but flunked out of highschool. I joined the Marine Corps. I switched tracks from Air Traffic Contol to Rescue Swimming. (Was ridiculously happy, but got injured too badly to be considered worth fixing). I've been a mercenary (yes there are more PC ways to put that, but let's be blunt). I've worked in the music industry. I've taken care of, and taught, other people's children. I've worked in healthcare (unit secretary in Surgery & NICU and volunteer peer counselor). I've been (an am) a SAHM. I've taught college kids. I homeschool an elementary kid. And for the past 8 years (sans 2 1 year hiatuses) I've been a part time college student. Many of these activites overlap, and some stand alone.

The lottery thing sprang out of a couple years into being a SAHM. WHAT on earth DID I want to do with my life??? It was a huge, and seemingly unanswerable, question. So out of procrastination/toying with the topic... I changed the criteria... What would I do with my life if I won the lotto? Low and behold... all my answers to what I really want to do in this lifetime ended up staring right back at me.

:) R

My dad died. When he passed I just sort of realized life is short, and there is so much I want to do in life. I also started stepping out of my comfort zones, with anything from clothes, make-up, to food, meeting people, etc.

Take this personality test: Each of are unique and our traits are for certain kinds of jobs. If we do not like what we are doing, it's probably our personality weakness. The goal is to find a job that utilizes our personality strengths so we are doing what we love. http://www.truecolorscareer.com/quiz.asp I bought her book, Follow Your True Colors To the Work You Love" by Carolyn Kalil (http://www.truecolorscareer.com/Book.htm)
I have learned so much about myself and my husband and my friends that I have emailed the test to.

Hi Mama,

Start small and work up. If you have an interst in sewing blankets for the family, take a class and start with napkins and work up.

I went back to school in my mid 20's and started my own business soon after. I do not think I could have done that if I hadn't started researching schools and reading business books first. Now I am on my way towards being a new person.

Good Luck.

R. Magby

I look at myself honestly. I look at what I like about myself and what I don't like about myself (physically, emotionally, personality, internal dialog, how I treat others, how I react to others, etc).

For the things I don't like, I ask myself what I can do to change it, how I would like to change it. Then I try to do it.

It isn't always easy, but it is part of growing.

Realistically it can be done.....I still practice this today but growing up My dad would always make me write things down to try to work through the grey areas of life....to make 'em more black and white and then move onto pros and cons of each depending on the topic. If you don't write it down and create a plan of action then it won't happen. Because like me and every other mom out there you are wearing many hats for many responsibilities. Give yourself grace..also how old are the kiddos, what is your work schedule like?? Are you even working outside the home? How is hubby work schedule? I would take baby steps first and write down some of the things that interest you. Perhaps you thought about going back to school? What subject interests y ou? Maybe you want to take piano lessons?? Dance lessons or join a bowling league..I would write down your goals after you think long and hard about what you want. Categorize them into short and long term. Pros and Cons to each and then prioritize them and follow through.