What I Always Wanted To Be

These days many people are thinking about other avenues of work. “What now?” seems to be a question underlining the thoughts of many. Few understand that it is wholly within their power to transform themselves and these times of discord, doubt and discontent are an excellent lever to set this transformation in process.

Now I’m gonna go all hippie-dippy on you. Before you turn the page, let me tell you something - these guys had more going on than drugs. Some of them had a drug of spirit that said by turning away from the world one is able to embrace it. This isn’t a new concept – it’s been whispered down through the ages, audible to the few who could decipher it in the din.

Anthony de Mello, SJ, wrote, in the mid part of the 20th century:
“How shall I help the world?"
"By understanding it," said the Master.
"And how shall I understand it?"
"By turning away from it."
"How then shall I serve humanity?"
"By understanding yourself."

A belief system like that got Father Mello, a Jesuit priest, into hot water with the Catholic Church. (It’s not the only or first time a Jesuit found himself in hot water with the Catholic Church - that’s a whole other topic.) But the establishment’s resistance to a thought process that evolved into a free-thinking approach to what it means to be human and pathways to understanding that are outside the norm of convention is not an uncommon response to an individual seeking serenity.

Sometimes circumstances present themselves in such a way that at first they feel like impediments – like roadblocks in our journey. Instead, if we turn the thing on its head and look at it from new angles, we can see that we’re being presented with chances, openings, breaks – a chance to change, an opening to advance, a break to take a breath, capture our thoughts and then act.

The “unknowing” aspect of this experience is rich with possibility. Heather Bussing, one of our more disciplined and formidable minds here on RBC, pointed us to a little ditty rich with meaning in her recent post, “Not Knowing is Sometimes Exactly The Right Place to Start.”

There are some of us who will “awake” during these times. And there are some who will keep on dozing, their time not yet come. As an exercise towards “awakening” I thought it might be fun to list the things we all wanted to be when we grew up. Don’t be afraid to sound silly - I’ll go first.

A princess (who wouldn’t?)
A skin doctor (always fascinated by morbidity)
A treasure hunter (I sorta’ am one, aren't I?)

How ‘bout you?

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Permalink Reply by Dan Nuroo on January 24, 2009 at 8:52am

My parents always asked me this as a kid.... and they have great delight in telling anyone who'll listen the bevy of responses I gave.

A daddy, was a popular call
A fireman
A cricketer (struck down by the cruel blow of having no talent)
A footballer (Australian Football... see above)
A writer
Rich was also popular

I'm going to ask my son tomorrow morning and will report what the next generation is thinking :)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on January 24, 2009 at 9:43am

In my early years, I wanted to be a Firefighter - if you ask my Mom, she'll still break out a picture of me in tightie whities and a firefighter's hat. My earliest recollection of the larger-than-life stature of FFs was when I was 5 or 6. My friends Daniel Moss and Peter Levy were, of course, playing with matches and thought we had put out the fire...

...until the local Chief paid a visit at the behest of our parents. I was sleeping and saw this man eclipse the light in the doorway of my bedroom. I knew this was an I'm-in-very-big-trouble moment.

Today really isn't any different. I still want to be a Firefighter; many in my close circle of friends are NYC FFs, from Chiefs down to probies receiving their first douche (ask someone who's a FF). If you've been reading my online musings for several years you know that on the weekends during the summers, I'm a Jones Beach Lifeguard - we must have 50 or so FDNY firefighters who double as lifeguards so we're always in firehouses. Four of our guards were murdered on 9/11; one killed in Iraq on his third tour. We have doctors, lawyers, millionaires, several recruiters (it's true), many teachers: What we all have in common is an insatiable love of the ocean, adrenaline, and camaraderie - and the job (Nuroo - think SLSC).

Since I'm too old to take a trip to the Rock, lifeguarding is how I serve the public (anyone who wants to come to the beach during the summer, let me know - I have connections to get you in). In effect, I'm doing what I've always wanted to do.

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Permalink Reply by Maureen Sharib on January 24, 2009 at 9:47am

It's wonderful, isn't it? (By the way, I always thought they were called "tightie whities.")
;)
In effect, I'm doing what I've always wanted to do.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah White on January 24, 2009 at 11:06am

Great Post Maureen!

When I was little (4-5) I wanted to be a doctor and work part time at the mcdonald's drive thru so I could eat fries all day! For the bulk of my remaining youth years I wanted to move to hollywood and be an actress.

In highschool and college I realized that I really just wanted to live on the beach/lake and rent jet skis. So, that is what I am working towards now - I will be renting jet skis and living the life of a beach bum within 15 years!

I asked my son (he is 7) and he wants to be a "boss, not a worker" lol and my daughter (she is 3) wants to be sleeping beauty at Disneyland.

Sarah

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Permalink Reply by Dan Nuroo on January 25, 2009 at 4:10am

Spoke to my 5 year old son today... amazing, not much changes over the generations... the answers, a fighting man (read WWE wrestler), a cricketer or a footballer... Here's hoping he has more talent than his old man!

Oh yeah, and he has named the girls (yes plural) he is going to marry... a pair of twins, Porshia and Paris. Nice I thought... at least he's thinking... apart from the fact it is illegal, the upside seems to be he only get's one mother inlaw :)