I’m so lucky to be in a job of my choosing. And lucky to have the time and inclination to pursue my hobbies. These things may not always be true and you do me a service to remind me not to take them for granted.

I, too, would like a finished product I am proud of. Some days I am fortunate enough to finish off a Financial Report that I can be proud of – because they are so complicated and detailed and tedious. But it is BECAUSE they are so tedious that I also abhor them. I have a job that I have not chosen. It has chosen me, due to timing and circumstance. For now, this is fine, but I would love love love to one day work on something of my own choosing, one day allows my creativity to pour through. Effectively.

I wish I cooked. When I do, I enjoy it. I mean, well I cook, I just don’t COOK. Not so much anymore. Life is too busy and crazy and well, I can hardly get ten minutes in the kitchen just to heat up leftovers and dish them out before some boy has hit another boy and I’m stepping out of the kitchen and into the maelstrom yet again!

I’m coming over for dinner. I’ll draw up a spreadsheet and you can execute! Do you have room for an extra five at your table? Or perhaps we could dine sans children.

Is it because these tasks provide immediate results that I can see? Probably.

Is it because at work I usually don’t get to see an end product for many years? I’m not sure.

Thanks for providing something to think about while I’m doing the dishes tonight!

And for the record I don’t enjoy doing other people’s chores, so don’t plan on dropping your laundry off at my house.

I loved reading about all the various outlets you have tried or considered. Your comment about your grandmother stood out to me. A few generations ago much of our labor was more tangible – homemaking, the industrial revolution, etc. Back then much of the work was physical, and less abstract that it is today. I think there’s a misconception that in order to be mentally challenging something has to be abstract. But I can be just as challenged – in patience especially – in something tangible as I can in something intangible.

Thanks again for your thoughts. I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog.

As you know I’ve worked in human capital, talent management, career counseling for the duration of my career. So, I’m thrilled to see you love what you do at work – it’s somewhat rare. But, recognizing that sometimes work alone isn’t going to fulfill all of your needs is important. So, finding another outlet – such as cooking for you – that is fulfilling but doesn’t demand that you do it for a full time job can be critical to having balance.

As a former musician I often crave some sort of “output” as well – the creation of music with others or alone was a huge part of my life for many years and I funneled an enormous amount of time and energy into improving my skills. However, since I stopped playing there has been a huge void in my life – emptiness – leaving a desire to create something in its wake.

I dream about having a house with a yard where I can dig my hands in the dirt, plant some seeds, nurture along the little sprouts and buds into ripe red peppers to take in my lunch or vaseful of fresh cut daisies. As you said…something tangible, something I can smell, touch, etc. SIGH.

But, since I love my condo and have no yard or intentions of moving….I have adopted cooking as one avenue. I often joke that chopping vegetables is my zen meditation – kind of mindless yet it produces an end result and there is something rewarding about using my hands. I rarely make the same thing twice – mostly because I cook/bake on the fly – and am famous for doing “mash ups” combining 2-4 recipes to make something new. This past summer I started the Pie Chronicles – a series of photos marking my first foray into making authentic homemade lattice crust fruit pies – as an ode to my grandmother’s fantastic baking skills. Last year I also took ballroom dancing classes as a creative outlet. I love to move and feel rhythm so it was another great way to express myself creatively.

But….I still yearn for something else. So, just know that you are neither an outlier nor alone in your desire to fill the gap – something to show for yourself – a physical manifestation of yourself……
L.
P.S. What’s for dinner?

We’re having a home built and in working with my builder I can see why he loves his job. He starts with dirt and grows a house. How satisfying is that! I am loving the process of taking my harbored ideas and letting them have a real life.

Keep on cooking!