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So many interests, so little time

Several years ago I stumbled (almost literally) across the work of author and "godmother of life coaching", Barbara Sher.  I was in the midst of a career transition from a steady-and-successful role in financial services, to I-wasn't-sure-what-was-next.  I just knew I didn't want to be in financial services anymore.  I had done what I wanted, learned what I wanted to learn and did my very best at what I was there to do.  One day, I was in one of my favourite stores on the planet- Chapters - when I passed by a book at the end of a shelf that caught my eye.  The colourful lettering on a bright-yellow background read: I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What it Was.  And that's exactly how I was feeling at that time in my life. That was back in 2003.  Seven years later, I've had what I look back on as some grand adventures in life.  But I still feel like I'm in transition.  Which is ok...I feel quite trusting of the whole process, for some reason, and once I started to listen to that "still, small voice" inside me all those years ago, it led me down some paths that I'm really quite pleased to have been down.  Doing things, even when I'm quite unsure of what the outcome will be or haven't even got a whole lot of logical - or rather, practical - reasons for doing them, has never failed me yet.  It's given me a depth and breadth of experience I surely would not have otherwise had, if I had ignored those tuggings, those whispers of the heart. And I've got stories to tell.  Which is fun. One thing that does tug at my mind though, more than just "from time to time", is how to make sense of, meld together and/or make enough time for my many and various interests.  Barbara Sher has dubbed those of us who have so many interests we barely know how to get started on any of them as "Scanners".  And though at times I wonder whether I'll ever accomplish much because I seem to lack the ability (as I once had) to isolate my life into one tiny career department, I don't think I'd have it any other way. Last week I was asking my son, who at ten years old has developed an affinity for playing golf, whether or not he was interested in playing the PGA Tour one day.  My motivation for this question was that I was trying to "sell" him on the merits of taking golf lessons.  Even though he really does have some very good natural ability at the game, I figure a lesson (or five) could only be beneficial for someone new to the sport, to make sure they start off on a good footing with proper technique and form and all that good stuff.  But he immediately answered the PGA question with a "No way".  He's just not overly competitive, and I think is not interested in devoting a disproportionate amount of time and energy to any one sport or activity.  He loves to play golf (and hockey, and ski, and swim, and the list goes on) just for the pure FUN of it.  He likes it, he has a good time, and that's all he's there for. And I love that.  In that moment, I realized that I respect his approach to the world of sports very much.  I think maybe he's a bit of a chip off the 'ol block after all; there's just too dang much wonderful stuff out there in the world to exclusively give your attention to just one interest, just one passion, just one hobby.   And in that realization, I think I realized that I respect myself, and am more comfortable with my "Scanner" habits, than I usually allow myself to be. So Ryan won't likely be an Olympic Gold Medalist, nor a Stanley Cup trophy winner, nor a Masters Tournament champion.  And I probably won't win....whatever prize it is that my Scanner interests could possibly be awarded.  But we will savour doing it all, trying it all, enjoying it all just for the fun of it.  We'll go where our hearts lead us. And we'll have lots and lots of stories to tell of our adventures in time and space this go 'round. Just give us time. :-)

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©2023 by Kelly Wagner

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