Several careers bounced around in my head over my 18 years of youth.  The first I recall was some strange desire to be a zookeeper.  Yes, a zookeeper.  What kid has ever dreamed of that?!

Sure you hear veterinarian a lot, or marine biologist, but a zookeeper?  That was a little outside the box.  I was never a big fan of animals so that intrigue must have been something on the more subliminal level and not truly tending to the needs of messy wild beasts.

I blame my parents for this strange desire that manifested in me.  The places we vacationed were mostly animal parks and zoos throughout my childhood through to my high school years.  That and growing up with 3 siblings must have been the cause.  The 4 of us kids are all 1 year apart from each other.  Guess it worked out fine during our elementary years since we had built in best friends, but then one day we were all teenagers.  We scrambled for the privilege to use the bathroom we all shared.  Prime tv viewing seating in the living room always seemed to have someone’s claim on it.  I even remember my sisters drawing territorial boundaries in their shared room to protect their turf.  Sounds like a highly domesticated and functioning zoo to me.  Guess I can put some experience on my resume after all.

I laugh at myself sometimes thinking that my dreams as a kid sort of came true.  I now manage a home with 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 cats and even a fish once upon a time.  My husband and my daughter are always planning an expansion to have a large saltwater aquatic feature and future felines as well.  This has become my small zoo after all.

(Great.  Now that song is in my head.  You know the one.  It might be perpetually annoying, but it reminds me of my daughter and her favorite ride so I can be proud of my tolerance for it.)

Being a zookeeper wasn’t a dream that lasted too long.  [Thankfully] I realized I prized neatness and am more of an animal loather than a lover.  Being a mom and wife is definitely not what I had in mind either, but I am more than glad to fill the position.  Don’t get me wrong, I struggled with the adjustment to filling these roles, but I came to realize that there are plenty jobs that anyone in the world could do, but only I get to be my kids’ mama.

Perhaps you’ve accomplished the career path you always knew you wanted.  Perhaps you find yourself doing the complete opposite still in search of something.  Either way, own it, do it well and take pride in it.  No one wants to be known as a professional malcontent.