I can remember wanting to be a scientist at a young age, too. Well, either that or I just enjoyed making my own potions out of dirt, fertilizer, and cow manure.
(I was definitely a weird kid.)

That’s great your son is working towards his goal. As I look back now, it was all about the journey – and not so much the destination. I know that sound completely cliche, but it is so true.

With that in mind, I wish him (and you) and peaceful and AWESOME journey where ever your paths lead.

Thumbs up!

Since he was tiny he’s always loved science; we still tease him about his favorite make-believe game when he was little: Science Man! (“What are you doing, Jakey?” “Playing SCIENCE MAN!”)

Now he’s applying for ROTC scholarships in hopes of covering costs should he get into Duke or Vanderbilt. Cross your fingers!

In my actions and words I hope I’ve made the message clear to my boys that they should follow their passions, pragmatically: Aim for your goal, find a tenable path to walk, and then put your heart into it.

Have a great weekend!!
~Lori

I love how you broke that down into the essential parts of the equation. That’s deep!

You’re another girl that’s all about action, Sami. LOVE IT!
~xo

I know, I know, you totally kick ass! I’m glad you see this!! Here’s my thoughts on your most recent breakthrough…

When I was in massage therapy school – exactly what you’re saying had to be pounded out of our heads! As you’d suspect, most of us there were there because we LOVE massage and LOVE helping people. Why would we ask anyone to pay us to do something we loved??? (I totally get it!!!)

We had entire classes on how we view our relationship to money and earning an income through massage. That it is OK to ask for payment and that, most people, WANT to pay you (us) for helping them.

The alternative was to at least barter – if someone really wanted to pay me and I didn’t feel *right* about it because of their financial situation, but they wanted to repay me somehow, I’d suggest making me dinner, or exchanging services (I received many of bartered haircuts, massages, etc. because of this).

Lisis, I think this is another HUGE topic and very valid — our relationship with money. Case in point, I LOVE YOUR CANDLE art and was more than willing to bust out he greenback to get me some!

I could go on an on about this, but maybe I’ll save it for another post someday soon! Suffice it to say, it literally took a couple of years for me to get comfortable with charging people. But, it’s OK, girl, it’s OK!

Excellent point! You’re a peach!

I realized that I don’t mind spending time and effort on something that makes me, or the world, better. I worked hard to earn my degrees (in business, even), and my pilot’s license; I work hard to make sure Hunter gets a great education at home… I spend time and effort helping others feel better, and doing candle art, and writing posts, and sorting 10,000+ LEGOs, and all sorts of things.

It isn’t the labor itself that bothers me, if it’s a labor of love. For me the issue is “selling” my labor of love for a price. Do you know what I mean? I love projects, and I throw myself into them with reckless abandon and passionate glee… but if I get PAID for them, it makes me feel cheap, instead of valued.

I can do a job (like dig ditches) for money, but I cringe at the thought of “selling” my passion.

Kinda psycho, huh? I haven’t really thought this through… it just came to me this afternoon when I started feeling “lazy” for not liking work, but realized I’m not really lazy at all. Maybe I just have a weird aversion to making money for doing what I love.

Anyway… thought I’d throw it out there.