How many lifetimes do we get?

We all talk about “One life to live”, as the only thing we have.  “Make it count” is another thing we are told but when we are walking across that stage at 18 and grasping our first diploma; we have no idea what we want to do.  My grandparents pushed me to have a plan before I got out of high school.  What was I going to do with the rest of my life?  Did I want to be a psychologist, a veterinarian, business manager?  I tried DECA, Theater, Art and the only thing that made sense was to work for my mother.  At this point, it isn’t a real solid retirement plan but it was a job. 

I travelled with her and enjoyed it but there wasn’t much room for advancement and eventually I became a nail technician.  Still not much of a retirement plan but I enjoyed doing it and really had fun with my clients.  About 6 years into that, I became an artist (still no retirement plan).  Here we are, staring down the new administration and I have to admit; being an artist is not going to make me a ton of money anytime soon.  What do I do now?

Looking back at all of the other part time jobs I’ve had; waitress, barista, sales representative for big box stores and a gallery, I realized that we weren’t told we didn’t need to stay in one job all of our life.  I don’t know how people do it but so many of you are content to do one job for your whole life.  What happens when you retire?

Covid taught all that we need to be able to pivot.  Change our direction and do something different, try something new.  I remember talking to a friend who told me that with the deterioration of her ankle, she didn’t know what she was going to do.  Reinvent yourself, I told her.  We wear different hats throughout our lifetime, grandparent, parent, spouse, shade tree mechanic, chef, house keeper; you get it right?  Why can’t we start a second career or even a third.

Artists get to redefine themselves too, we change mediums and styles.  We move to new locations and are inspired by new things. So I guess the moral of this blog is this; life is an etch-a-sketch.  If it isn’t working, pick it up and shake it.  That being said, I’m not really ready to shake my life up again but, I may have to pivot for the time being.  Stay flexible my friends and don’t be scared to be a little different.