(A look) Forward and Back: Career Path-Ways, Means

Part 1 - How it all-ways begins

"Full of Promise" Whether it's a youngster type watching some "grown-ups" actively working, which in turn engages their imagination of "what I want to be..." Or, a few years on, on the verge of graduating from high school (I have to specify as there are so many graduation "exercises" at just about every level of so-called "educational attainment" these daze) the "seniors" among us are told that "not matter the economic times, you are the generation of the future...we're excited for, depending on you..."😕😟 And then, either shortly before or just after a post-celebratory breather, you are aspiring to your very first job...perhaps not the "job of my dream, my so-called dream job" but at least the first step in my career path...there is so much career related advice, opinions, and other-wise collectively now referred to as "Occupational Guidance" which has, of course, a lot of practitioners itself (and a part-time role for your host, when not posting or posing to...). Advice that has, of course, been handed down to would-be job seekers, some of whom will simply look at it as such -- "It is what it is...a means to an end..." whereas for others just the first step in might be, either a linear or more circuitous route to your long term career goal -- "My goals and aspirations...how working for this company might assist me in realizing my dreams while I provide them with dedicated service...a balanced reciprocity..."

Career Ad-vice: The kind you often hear, read about ("Indeed!"), when you are either first starting out or at any given juncture, in your so-called path-way, which might include seeking, in addition to all those readily offered idioms from relatives at your graduation or upon being handed an envelope at your "graduation open house" you are obligated to at least act like you're paying attention when Uncle Harry or Great Aunt Hilda offers, in the form sagely advice, with the best of intentions: "Follow your dreams...passions 😉😇😈😕..." On behalf of being pragmatic in the midst of less-than-desirable economic times, "Let's get practical here...be prepared to go where the jobs are...be good at more than one thing...it just makes sense, right?" And, if you decide it's not sufficient you might go on seeking, more formalized, so-called "professional ad-vice" from those who have made it a career to collect not only idioms and data, which includes some more personalized..."Know your strengths, capitalize on their weaknesses 😉😕😌" Lots to consider, so much advice from well-meaning😔😕 folks...

"Early, all-too-often": Well before you, the seeker, are offered, proffered either free or for-a-fee career ad-vice, perhaps as early as taking your very first ("baby step"), you either overheard or were more directly informed, "You have so much promise...lots and lots of potential!" This was perhaps inspired by "Them" getting the very first glimpse of how I turned such stored-up energy into a "body and mind in motion!!" -- as in what physicists (a body of professionals that explain how bodies interact, in part) call "kinetic" ("when is he going to burn it all off and settle down...so we can ourselves get some rest?!") And what child or developmental psychologists may even see as a "gift" -- "They're blessed with boundless energy, just not enough places to channel it..." Oh yeah, as I grew that's all I seem to have heard about, sometimes in the pure, un-adult-R-rated, version, "You've got a lot of promise there, son..." On to a context of something a bit qualified (as in "I was just trying to motivate you, a bit of reverse psychology") -- "You'll never amount to much...if you keep that up...") On to one which mixes a bit of inspiration with perspiration (i.e, "cold sweat") -- "You've got a lot to live up to...big shoes to fill..." Lots and lots of potent-tials...all of which are an attempt to call on mine, to get me motivated, keep me moving...as in staying kinetic...until I finally reach my destiny-tion...

Part 2- (Re) routing, rooting; Finding meaning, purpose...