What gives you direction in life?
- In my first decade my goal was to be an astronaut on some days, an artist on others, and a footballer on other days.
- In my second decade my burning ambition was to be an artist, or a rock star. I spent a lot of my energies on my music. It consumed me.
- In my third decade my goal was still to be a rock star. It became an obsession, but eventually, the practicalities of life took over and I went to university to study art.
- In my fourth decade teaching took over art, again because of the practicalities of needing to feed my family. Music was still my dream, but work and raising my kids were my main directions in life.
- In my fifth decade newfound love took me to a new home far away, which brought lots of new opportunities. My career in teaching was still was my main focus and direction. I became more ambitious, as my kids left home.
- In my sixth decade my direction developed into building my own business as an education consultant, and I become involved in national education policy making. I began planning for my retirement too, and that gave me direction also.
- In my seventh decade my career came to an abrupt end. I think I had gotten sick and tired of running my own business by then, and I just didn’t want the hassle of it all. I realised that all my life I had been striving for the kind of recognition I’d wanted as a teenager but never got. And I think all of my aspirations were the result of needing attention and validation, the kind of attention I never got as a baby and a child. ADHD also played a part, but I didn’t know it.
- So, now I don’t have any direction. I’m not looking for validation or seeking attention. And it is bloody bliss.
Paul Carney’s Blog 
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