[TerriLynn]

I am 45 yrs old and I don't know what I want! I have been an administrative assistant my whole life. I make good money, so it isn't like I need to change careers cause the bills don't get paid.

I am pretty smart, even though I don't have a college education. And I don't really want to go back to school to get a degree.

I learn computer software systems quickly, I am creative, organized and good at my job. I just think I COULD do other things, I just have no idea what!

I was a single mom for almost 10 years, so most of my career was about just having a secure job that paid the bills and let me get home to my daughter. Now, with my daughter grown and in college away from home, and I am married and the bills are all paid by his retirement, I think I am ready to start figuring out what else I could do.

I was a legal secretary for a while and hated it, I was soooo bored. I like to be busy and wear lots of hats. The other thing I didn't like about it was that you always seem to be dealing with people at the bottom of the barrel. My DH is a retired policeman, and that was the worst part of his job too.

The above single parent "reasoning" for my career path may just be an excuse. As an adult survivor of childhood abuse, I am beginning to wonder if the career choice was just part of my low self image, thinking this was all I really could do, or my way of keeping specifically 9-5 jobs so that I could just get home to my "safe place" because the world out there isn't.

I don't know where or how to start looking for something else.

[growlycat]

What do you love to do? Start there.

[unaluna]

There are career quizzes on the internet, either free or for like ten bucks. They match your interests to people who are already doing whatever jobs or careers.

I understand your quandry. I use to be in administration, secretarial, operator, switch board, etc. etc. I often felt like a labotimized monkey chained to the keyboard. And i can say, you are bored because you are intelligent. Weigh out your options carefully. Have you thought of maybe keeping the same good job that pays well and having a hobby outside in the wilderness? Like a hiking club or something like that. It is often through a hobby that we find our forte for a new career. Don't jump into something else for just a change, do it for the passion of something you would enjoy. In the meantime being outside of a building in nature will stimulate you enough to take the edge off of being inside for 40+ hrs. That is how i managed. I hope what ever you decide it works out for you. Blessings.

[TerriLynn]

Well, I am just starting therapy and one of my quandaries is that what I always thought I loved doing, refinishing furniture, sewing, and crafts, I always did to try to make my abusers love me because that is what they do. So right at the moment, I really want to throw my sewing machine away and never touch another piece of fabric! I always thought I wanted to own my own antique store or boutique where I made everything in it. But now I am not so sure. Of course it doesn't help that when I mention things like that my dad says something to the affect of "yeah, sure, if you want to go bankrupt".

I am sure that it is best for me not to make any large changes in my life right now. But I really want to start thinking about what else I could be doing!