h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm starting to realise part of why I'm getting into the Maelstrom thing so much.
In the game, my character's life has purpose, it has a (reasonably) clear goal and can do something about it. In real life, I, whilst being pretty happy on a day-to-day basis, have no goals and no achievements.

I'm temping in a job that's okay but has no career prospects whatsoever. I have absolutely no idea what I would like to do in the future, and anything that involves training is tricky because in two years I'm expecting to be a mother and being (at least mostly) at home for a while.
We could also have the option of moving to a different country for a couple of years with my husband's job; something that his company deem essential if you want to progress up the management ladder. It'll be but I'll have to leave any career behind.

I need something to believe in, possibly something to get passionate about. I'm teetering on the brink of joining the Shrewsbury Canal Preservation Society , but part of me doesn't see it as that worthwhile. Sure, I love canals and the society (appears to be) pretty active in restoration, but it's not something that will really help me.

Maybe a qualification would give me something to focus on, but then the question is always which qualification, and in which field? I hated studying at uni, and my qualification has done nothing for me because all I'm apparently qualified for is jobs that need a 'C' and English and Maths GCSE.

I'm feeling rather negative at the moment, but at least I'm thinking about it. It's one step closer to doing something about it!

I have a similar problem, only I'm not even temping, you could do what I'm doing, have a look here and see if anything grabs your attention http://www.open.ac.uk/

I've liked the idea of studying with the OU. Apart from the expense it could work quite well. Now I just have to find out what I want to do! Maybe I should just do a mixed 'Arts' degree; it won't help with employment but at least it keeps me busy!

I've just done a 10 credit OU course creative writting course, and it was great - really easy to fit in with my spare time. What of it I have. YOu don't need to sign up to a degree, you can just do a 10 credit course, an then a bigger one, and see how it adds together.

*sign*

I want spare time, i caught myself looking at hour dialysis patients, and thinking 'lucky them, I'd love to have 6 hours three times a week to read a book!' Of course when I talk to them most of them wish they were dead.

Have you thought of volenteering of some sort? There's loads of ways you could be helpful, and really make a difference to people. Brownies, Guides, Age concern are always looking for people.

My lovely housemate has just organised a trip to a Ugandan orphanage for her colleagues from church. The deposit needed to be paid to day other wise I'd suggest you go to. That'd be a focus.

>> in two years I'm expecting to be a mother

You're an elephant? And you look so thin and graceful.

Seriously - you can't predict babies. I most certainly wouldn't put anything off for a pregnancy as vague as that one. That way lies bitterness and regret.

I usually recommend "What color is your parachute" to people in your circumstances. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?_encoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books-uk&field-author=Richard%20N.%20Bolles It's republished every year but most editions include exercises to work through which help you work out what is important to you and what isn't.

I used it the two last times that I made career changes, and it helped me (a) narrow down my options to the ones that I could live with and (b) know that I'd made good choices even when they turned scary for a bit.

The volunteering suggestion is a good one. When I look around me at work, the people who are happiest are the ones who do have something more meaningful than this quarter's figures. That may be different for people with vocations s s s but most of the people where I work are there because they're there because they're there. Me included, though I really enjoy what I do. But there's no sense of "right livelihood" - it is all self-indulgence and paying the mortgage.

If you are going to study, EITHER choose something vocational which will make you more employable OR regard it entirely as a hobby. No harm in either, but don't think that knowing about Renaissance Poetry is going to help you do a job, still less get one.

Where are you living at the moment? Fancy a

I'm currently in Shrewsbury, which is about an hour's train ride from Birmingham. And meeting up for an would be wonderful; I haven't seen you (either or you, for that matter!) for aaages!

I know I can't predict babies, but it's something that we both want, and as soon as possible really. We're only waiting that long because of Troy studying alongside his job (he's retraining to be an accountant).
Of course, it might turn out that we can't, or that something else will crop up, or that we make a mistake and it all happens sooner, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

If I find something that I really want to do - like I did with the instrument repair last year - I'll take it by both hands and go for it, future pregnancy or no. But when I don't know what I want to do, putting off having children for some half-wish that I don't actually care about would be the same thing, just in reverse.

I'm ordering a copy of the book as we speak, Ben - thanks. It sounds like just the sort of thing I need.

Hmm, volunteering, eh. I guess pressing ahead with the Canal thing would be a start, although I'm sure there's plenty of other more meaningful things to do out there. I'll keep an open eye. I kow its something that my dad loves (only his is steam trains, not canals).

"...but don't think that knowing about Renaissance Poetry is going to help you do a job, still less get one."
Indeed. I wish someone had had the foresight to tell me that before I started my degree way back when. But hey. We all make mistakes.


So, actions plan:

1. Read book, which will hopefully lead to a petter picture of what I should aim for
2. Join the canal preservation society for something to be pssionate about
3. Possibly join a new musical thing in town - I'm asking for details at present - for something musical to get involved in.



Thanks, both of you. You both have opinions that I trust.

It's good hear from you as well.

The book has arrived, Ben. It's going to take me a while to wade through it, but it looks just what I needed.
It's the 'finding the goal' part that I find hard, and that's what it's there to do.