What If...?

It's that time of the year when many decisions are made and "what ifs" are front and center. I am starting to see a lot of action on our social network, My CoolWorks, regarding questions from job seekers about whether or not they are making the right choice for the summer of 2008. Have I chosen the right summer job? Will I hate it? Will I love it? Which location is better? Is anyone else going there too? AM I MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE? I've been around the block long enough to know that no one wants to make a bad choice, but sometimes, well really all the time, you've still got to make a decision based on the information that's in front of you right here and now. No one has a crystal ball to be able to tell you that everything will be okay. It's a leap of faith that we all make every day of our lives.

A few times recently and several times over my lifetime, I have been presented with the "What if" scenario and I must admit it really sucks to go through the thought process of "What could've been" and the realization that "I guess it wasn't meant to be." Usually these thoughts are full of regret, anger, sadness, the lure of "the road not taken," and other doubting thoughts. But, if one has faith, and I do, the upside is perhaps that maybe that person, opportunity, job, you name it, wasn't the right "road" to go down, and the many decisions that I made along the way and other events which sent me on a different path were done for a very good reason.

A couple of quotes come to mind.


"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." - Kierkegaard

"Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control?" - From "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley


Why am I writing this to you right now? Well, 1) the experience of the "what if" is fresh in my mind and it is cathartic to write about it and know that I am not alone in these thoughts. 2) Whatever decision you make about your summer job for 2008, it's not the end of the world. This job will last 3-6 months and then you can move on from it if you wish or you may find that it is the best decision that you ever made. Just make it and move on with your life.


Parting quote:
"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out." - James B. Conant


Good luck with your decisions folks!

To All My "Seasonal" Friends and the Ones I Have Yet To Meet

Friends come and go. I know that that is true. But, as we all know, there are those who stay in our hearts and minds for all of our time on this planet. This week I got to enjoy the company of some of my friends from school and from one of my previous employers, and I'm so glad about the fact that even though the classes have ended and I don't work there anymore, the relationships remain. My husband would probably say that most of these people are acquaintances instead of friends, but I know that there are those who touch a part of me that has made my life richer from having known them.

Now granted I have mostly worked full-time, year round jobs at seasonal employers, but I still have friends, acquaintances, whatever, from my first year as a seasonal driver/guide. What is even better than that is that these people have now moved up, and over, and are now some of the people near the top of the food chain in the organizations where I worked. There must be something about that spirit of hanging in there together, getting the job done, taking care of that guest, staying late because somebody had to count those tickets, well, all of it, that bonds people together for that common goal of having a successful season.

Maybe it's the shared belief that what you do in a seasonal environment will affect so many people. Seasonal employers serve thousands of folks every year and it doesn't matter what job you do, there is always a trickle back to the ultimate guest. Every job, every person, is important to making the wheels spin and meeting that goal.

For those embarking on a seasonal career, i.e. getting that summer job, I know that place is an important attractor. I know that the company's reputation is too. Pay definitely plays a part. But, I bet that when all is said and done, the things that you will remember most about your summer job(s) are the friends you will meet and keep for years to come.

So, to my friends and acquaintances, consider this a mini dedication to our time together. Thanks for making my seasonal jobs and my time in this world so great. May the preparation for another "year" remind you of all of the good times and all of the good people you've met along the way.