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I'm sad there haven't been any responses to this yet. I was considering posting a similar thread a while back and I'm curious about this, too.
To kinda answer your question, I do love what I do (except those couple days leading up to having to actually come back to work). It works for me right now, however I know I will not be driving towboats for the rest of my life. I want to be a mom, and I can't do that and also be expected to work 30 days away from home (obviously). So my intrest in this topic is to get an idea of what would be a good move for me once I'm a mom and not working on the boats anymore.
I know exactly how you feel! I'm really really really good at what I do, but I don't want to be doing it forever. I just have *no* idea what I actually do want to do forever, so I'll stick with doing what I'm good at ... for now.
Sorry, I know that doesn't really answer your question, but maybe knowing you're not alone helps?
I'm lucky that I've been able to figure out what I want to do and also find a job doing what I want to do.
I feel like one of those dorks who knew my career choice in elementary school. But, yeah I always wanted to be a therapist and help people out. In grad school I studied social work, which I really like. The thing with social work is that it is SUCH a broad field, it's not necessarily easy to find a job doing what you want to do.
I graduated last May, and in that time have had three jobs. (The first two were really not so awesome). But, now I'm in a job doing exactly what I want to do, and I really do enjoy it. Not to say it isn't stressful and overwhelming, though I realize it's a good thing when I reflect on my really long stressful days and have no desire to quit, and really think, wow I'm enjoying this.
So...I do think once you figure out what it is your ideal career would be, and you get that good job, it can really feel different.
I think sometimes it can be hard to figure out the ideal job because people often tend to think somewhat straight forwardly about career choices. I think sometimes though thinking a bit more creatively can help figure out what a good career choice is. Like, thinking about hobbies and activities you enjoy or are really good at and seeing if that's career applicable. Or thinking of personality traits and fields in which those would blend well. Or even doing one of those career tests and seeing what that says (which is really not SO creative, but that's okay).
I know for a lot of people it does take time to find the ideal job and ideal career. So I hope that you're able to keep searching and one day do find a job doing what you love to do! 
I was about three when I started singing. Now I make about half my income singing at churches and various gigs while the other half comes from being a wardrobe mistress - a crazy, stressful and incredibly rewarding job that has not only paid for me to go to school but has made me a part of so many amazing shows and allowed me to work with some of the best people I know. I think it's safe to say that I not only do what I love but I truly love what I do!!
Teaching found me. While still in school I started tutoring and really loved the idea of sharing what I knew and helping others gain that knowledge. I tutored all through university, took two years off and did some substitute teaching (Which I loved! that might sound crazy, but it was a fun way to career explore) and then did my teaching degree. I've been teaching ever since and go in every morning terribly excited at what the next day is going to bring. That's corny and cliché as all get out, but it's the sincere truth. I always tell my students that when they are trying to figure out what they want to do that they should volunteer in a wide variety of settings, that this exposure might help them discover something they could see themselves doing.
My career (web developer / C# programmer) is something I am decent at doing and don't mind doing. I wouldn't say I "love" it, but I like it well enough and the pay is good.
I don't want to do it forever, but I really don't know what I want to do "when I grow up" LOL.
This is a good video by Mike Rowe on finding your career. He doesn't say "do what you love", he says "find what no one else is doing and there is a need for". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-udsIV4Hmc
I love my job...I am a Physical Education teacher, and adore working with children..I teach pre-k thru grade 8. And of course I get to teach them all kinds of games and ways to be healthy so I really enjoy it...
I am in LOVE with my job. I am an American Sign Language - English Interpreter. I literally get excited to go to work everyday . Every day is different : from .. educational , legal, medical , work shops to drag shows ! haha , I feel very lucky.
@Jazziberry- I know exactly what you mean. The same things cross my mind. I want to find a job i'll love now, but that I'll also be able to keep when i want to start a family, and one that would easily go alone with my husbands military career. It's definitely not easy :)
@Miss Godiva- It is good to know I'm not alone. I wish taking care of my family and eating chocolates (you've got my mind on godiva, yum!) was a career... unfortunately that wont make me any money... :)
@judithsr- thank you! Women like you that have found their career (and a very honorable one at that) are definitely an inspiration to me
@Dragonsus- that sounds like such a fun job!!
@misshennalicious- the world needs more teachers that love their jobs :)
@abbyful- the pay being good is why i've tolerated some jobs in the past. It only made me happy for so long, but I think I may be ADD :) being good at it, good pay, and not being miserable are all good reasons to stay with a job :)
thanks for the video, i definitely need to find something that there is always a need for, my husband and I will be moving every 3 years for the next 16 years or so which definitely isn't something employeres jump for joy about :/
@MissParrot- that sounds like such a fun job!! What did you major in in college? Did you still have to go through teacher credentialing? I'm jealous :)
@Missi- That is so good to hear :) I just signed up to go back to school and listed my major as educational interpreting! I took three years of sign language in high school and I loved it, but I haven't done it since and I've never really tried interpreting, so we'll see if I like it :) I figured, at the very least, I could interpret at my church (they're in need of another one)
I love what I do!! Naturally, I would love to have a life if leisure, but if I gotta work, this is the way to do it.
I hate my career to the point where it makes me depressed. However, I used to love it. I thrived on it and was obsessed with it. I was a self proclaimed work-aholic. As I got older and my priorities changed, I really started to loathe what I do. Luckily for me though I have a very supportive hubby and I'm finally working on a career change.
@helenberrycrunch- what do you do?
@mwitter80- That is awesome that your husband is supportive in your decision to make a career change :) I see no sense in sticking with a job that makes you miserable. I feel like I drive my husband crazy at times because I just can't seem to make up my mind!
@Bella13: That is GREAT Bella!! You will LOVE IT , it is quite challenging but very rewarding. I dont know about where you are from but in Canada and the US there is a severe shortage in ASL - ENG Interpreters.
@Bella13: I work as a registered nurse on an acute inpatient psychiatry unit at a VA hospital.
@Missi- I'm currently in Hawaii, the college i'll be attending offers a 2 year interpreter certificite or a 2 year associates degree program, is that a good way to go? I would most likely go for the associates, look for a job if I love it, and then continue onto a bachelors. :) I figured that with the amount of deaf and hard of hearing it would be a fairly easy job to move around with.
@HelenBerryCrunch- maybe I'll have to go to school for nursing and come work with you. :) (but is that something you can do and still be around for mom duties?)
I love my career. I have an aweful boss right now but I still love my career. It is work but I make a difference everyday. You just have to be true to yourself. I love caring for people, socializing, and not squimish of very sick people. I made a perfect fit with the healthcare industry.
To respond in general I couldn't see myself doing anything for the rest of my career. Anything I like gets tiring eventually if you have to do it 8 hours a day, everyday. In my opinion anyway there isn't anything I like enough that I would love doing it 40+ hours a week :P
I would say it is hard to have a career you really love. I think if you find a job you like ok or can tolerate that is still better than many have it.
I love what I do, and do what I love (kinda)!
I worked as a nurse tech for 5 years, in ICU, Labor and Delivery, and the ER. I've loved every second of it! It's interesting, it's fun, the hours and benefits are great.. when you start to get bored or burnt out, you can change departments. After being certain that this was what I wanted, I decided to go back to school to get my nursing degree. I'll be finished in May of 2012, and will be starting an internship as a Labor and Delivery nurse.
In school, we are in the hospital every week for our clinical rotations.. and right now I'm in Oncology. Every area of the hospital is amazing and unique in its own way. It would be hard to go home without feeling like you've made a difference! :)
I also really really really loved the job I had as a teen at the local flower shop!
I really do love my job. I am a teacher-- so far I have taught kindergarten and preschool. In college, I remember dreading having to go to class, etc. However, I wake up at 6 am everyday and actually look forward to my day with my kids. I could have had an awful night the night before, but I go into work and have a blast with 16 three year olds. Yes, it is stressful (hello, being completely responsible for that many little ones!), but they are my heart. Hearing "I love you Ms. Jenn" or silly ones like "I rode a dinosaur to the donut shop before school!" makes life a little sweeter :)
I wouldn't say that I love my job but there are days when I feel like it was made for me. I'm an auditor for a retail chain and I deal with a lot of loss prevention issues (I find the evidence that gets dishonest store employees terminated). Most days are good but some days I dream about telling people exactly how I feel about them and peacing out for good. I definitely don't want to be an auditor forever, but for the time being it's a good solid job and there are a lot of people who don't have that luxury right now.
What I'd really like to do is become a wedding planner. Hopefully next year our software company (that we own) will be profitable enough to allow us to quit our day jobs so I can focus on getting the certifications needed to get the ball rolling.
I left a good job to teach because I thought the grass was greener.... and it wasn't. So now i've been teaching for three years am currently a substitute teacher so I can hopefully leave it when I find something else but i'm unhappy. Luckily I have a supportive FI.
I was so where you are for a while. I just figured it out about 6 months ago - and trust me, when you figure it out you will just *know.* (Cheesy moment of the day). I got my BA in Psychology and thought I wanted to be a School Counselor - when the day came in to turn in my application to Grad School I realized that isn't at all what I want to do. So I didn't. After months of trying to "just figure it out" I decided to hold off on Grad School for a while and just go WORK some (in my field instead of other "just a job" settings). I got a job as a social worker and OMG I love it. I'm going to go back and get my MSW in Social Work sometime either this year or next because my job is fulfilling (which I need) and something I can see myself growing in careerwise.
Just thought I'd share my "story" and that it's out there somewhere. :)
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I've yet to find my "dream" career. I've tolerated, liked and even sometimes enjoyed some of my jobs in the past, but I've never loved one, at least not enough to say that I'd like to do it for the rest of my life.
Have any of you found that love for your work? Is it even possible? I'd like to think that it is, but I just wish that I would find it, or it would find me, a little faster!