I saw this last night, after a long and rather exhausting day. So the blog was put aside for the morning, when I would be refreshed. I know your blogs are thoughtful and so I like to be thoughtful when I read them. I'm glad I waited.
You reflect upon the quality of 'success'. This does strike home. I'm in a position (as you know) to look back and consider 'success' and 'failure'. It's interesting that I think almost exclusively in terms of how I parented my children, rather than how my professional efforts panned out.
And you're right: everything I have done and learned has been useful in some way. Wherever I am, whatever I do, that experience comes to bear. One way in which my past differs from the model you describe is that I've never viewed education as training for anything, but life. Perhaps this explains my falling short of material 'success' :)
As always, Erika, a fascinating read. Especially your phone book experiment. I really, really enjoyed the spirit of that.
Have a great weekend!
Thank you, my friend, to take your time for reading what I have to say. I feel exhausted as well as it's so hot here, unusually hot.
It is said that the older we get, the more emphasis we place on interpersonal relationships, less on how successful we have been in our profession. I agree with you. Ultimately, work always affects relationships, whether within or outside family or friendship. Since I can divide my life into two professional halves, one is work in the free media economy, the other in the social sector, I notice the big difference. But I can't even weigh one against the other because there are so many differences. I claim that I wouldn't be such a good social consultant if I hadn't had over twenty years of professional experience in a completely different industry. I think my son doesn't learn so much from me through my words or speeches, but rather through my lifestyle and what things I consume or neglect. Work is a big influence on lifestyle and only begins to lose that influence when we retire or leave professional careers behind. Every phase of life has its own effect and meaning, which is a good thing. It is very difficult to split life experience between private and professional, because the two interact. Your rich experience of years and of what you have learned is certainly valuable and respected by your fellow human beings. In any case from me! In a larger social group everyone takes a certain role, that is useful, because if everyone were like Erika or Agmoore, there would be many bad problems ;-) The mix of Agmoore, Erika, Peter, Paul, Mary and Joe is, isn't it?
You too, have a good Sunday. Hope, it's cooling down soon.
Yes, all of us together. It's a stew that leads to creativity and progress. I think I see in all of your writing a combined wisdom. There's never a sense that you compartmentalize. It is in your nature, which you have explored fully, to expand awareness. I think, in 20 years you will be quite wise indeed.
Have the most wonderful day (although it is likely over now). I'm off again to help pet sit. My daughter will be away until the end of August so I'll have my hands full this summer. I'm so glad for that :)