career – Monte Stevens Photography Blog

Full moon reflecting in Beaver Pond at Arapaho Bend Natural Area

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.
Joseph Campbell

My early goals were often set by parents, church, schools, society and hidden dreams. These goals set me on certain paths. Not everyone’s path is the same so realize I am only speaking about mine.

My parents instilled within me the goal to marry and have children. I did that. The church of my youth suggested I be a hellfire and brimstone preacher. Instead, I chose to raise hell. School offered me a couple goals: to be the hero at the football game, which never happened. And the other was to attain an education, build a career, and go into debt on a 30 year home mortgage, which did happen. Then, 20 years later I got a divorce, sold the home, changed careers, and was still unhappy in my career.

However, none of these goals nurtured the questions that were being asked within me; “Who am I? What do I have to offer the world? How do I make the world a better place? How do I participate in the world?” Once I entered my early fifties these questions began to shout for acknowledgement. Thus began the journey of discovering who I am, and who I am not. On this path I’ve uncovered a few things I do have to offer the world and believe there are many more yet to uncover. I am reevaluating my goals and their impact on others, nature and the universe. Seems Campbell may have narrowed it down, “to make my heartbeat with the heartbeat of the universe and live as if I am a part of nature.” I can see that as a goal and a prayer. May I live it!!

I ate dinner the other night with a young man who is questioning the career direction in his life. I would love to say just the right words and help guide him along but those words don’t always seem to come. I do listen and ask questions, hoping those questions will help. While reflecting back over our conversation this morning, I realize seeking a career is not what I’m focused on at this time in my life. Do we need to have a career or as the case is now a days, multiple careers? Why do we pursue careers? Are we seeking the monetary gain or the status? How many of us define ourselves by our careers? We tell others we are an engineer, a teacher, policeman, a doctor, etc. At the root of all this is the realization I was always looking for a career that would give my something. I really wanted to have the money, the title, the unnecessary material goods. I expected a career to make me into someone and it never could.

Maybe a career is more about what I can offer to benefit the world rather than what I can gain.These simple daises pictured above, have so much to offer this world in such a short lifetime. They will sprout, grow, blossom and then decompose as part of the process to nurture the next generation. They are not trying to be a rose or a lily. They will blow in the wind as if waving to us, calling our attention to the beauty around us. Maybe that’s what a career is all about.

Have wonderful day!

The Beat of the Universe

A Flower's Career