....mostly about change

I've been thinking a lot over the past month about my career.  First, don't get me wrong, I am HAPPY that I have a job, especially in this economy!  However, I just don't see myself at my current job or even in my current company long term.  I guess I never really have, but I have chosen to stay here because at least they hired me and I've made a name for myself.  However, now that I’m losing weight and I'm figuring out more and more of who I am, I'm beginning to realize I do not like where I am at.  I hope that makes sense.  I think it is that I've always made choices based upon what others would think, I've always worked hard to beat that stereo-type that fat people are lazy, and I've always pushed myself to be the best because my family (friends, partner--all interchangeable) could be proud of the work I do.  Now I'm realizing I have a voice.  I can have a say in what my future holds.  I can safely say, I thought the corporate world was for me, I've tried it, and now know I want out.  I am okay with saying I want a career where I make a difference and the difference isn't dependent on how much money I bring in for a company or how much I save a company.  I am okay with saying that I don't know me as well as I thought I knew me and I'm still figuring everything out.  It is okay for me to do something that makes me happy regardless of the money it will bring in or what everyone thinks of me.  So with that said, I'm thinking about going back to school and finally getting a degree to do something I want instead of working with what I settled for.  I currently have a BA in English, but where is it getting me?  I'm thinking of going back to school to do something in the medical field because that is where I feel the most comfortable (if I hadn't been so set against the medical field all my life, I would have known this sooner).  I'm thinking radiology, but I haven't really decided.  I know I have A LOT of things to think about and research to do...but I know I’m ready for change.  I'm ready to start being who I am and not what is right to the world.Anyone else make career changes with the surgery?  Or other changes that were something you never allowed yourself to think you could do, until you found you?

I think its great!  We are under no obligation to stick with the carreer we started with.  I started my working career as a computer programmer, then sold real estate for a number of years where I won awards but ultimately it wasn't for me, and now I've been a corporate accountant for the past 15 years.  Lately I've been very reflective, just like you are now, and I'm thinking too its time for a change, I just haven't figured out what that will look like yet.  My partner at the age of 51 has decided to follow her dream of music, and has just joined a rock blues band as their bassist.  She is keeping her corporate job for now, but I can see her leaving it when the time is right.  I don't know what my calling is yet, but I'm open to the Universe and I know that it will come to me.

And ya, I can totally relate to what you said about being the hardest working to compensate for the fat.  If I couldn't be thin, then I would always be the best employee, I was completely driven to excel so that people would like me.

Good luck with your upcoming research and decisions!
Bren

I've got three words for ya Rae: GO FOR IT!

There are a million quotes that I can think of from Thoreau to Helen Keller to Thomas Campbell but they all say the same thing- follow your heart cuz it will lead you to amazing places.

Good Luck

I agree  - go for it!  

I just got back from my 20th college reunion.  I met at least three women who started out in one career (law, corporate) but quit to do something totally different (high school english, HR, event planning).  

I wonder if waiting until you have lost most of the weight would be good though.  I only say this since my perspective on life has continued to evolve over the last 8.5 months.  I wonder if your interests and beliefs in what is possible will change?  Mine have.