She was talking about how introverts often get into careers they don't really love because they push themselves into something they think they should like. She gave three guidelines to identify your own "key personal projects" (i.e., something you would really love). And her third guideline really made me think. It was:
Pay Attention to What You Envy
Instantly, I knew what she meant. I have a whole list of jobs I envy quite regularly:
1. School Librarian - One of my favorite blogs is written by a former school librarian. She used to write about the activities she would do with the students. Mock Caldecotts? Helping a reluctant reader find just the right book? Reading aloud? Yeah, that's for me.
2. Children's Book Librarian - Not only would I rock story time (in my dreams), but I would love to have parents come up to me and ask, "What would you recommend for my three-year-old son?" (Answer: Chalk by Bill Thomson.)
3. Editor - I already mentioned this when I went to Shannon Hale's book signing. Her editor was with her, and I thought, Why have I never before thought about editing as a career? Not that I understand the first thing about what it takes to be an editor, but I would actually love to read through manuscripts looking for cohesiveness and content or even grammatical or spelling errors. (Of course, it would have to be books/authors I enjoyed in the first place...as long as I'm envying, I might as well reach for the stars.)
4. Book Store Employee - Maybe I'm making it more glamorous than it would be, but think about it: surrounded by books hot off the press? You get to be one of the first ones to see them in all their new splendor! Plus, again, recommending books to customers would be so fun.
But amidst all of this envy about jobs that will probably never be mine, one thought blazed out brightly and triumphantly:
The one job I would envy more than any of the others, I already have.
And the three of them are sleeping peacefully in their room right at this very moment.
