When people ask me what I do for a living, I've pretty much exclusively responded with "I work at Spectrum Health, on the internal web site." To which most people respond with "Oh, cool!"
It is cool. I love working at the hospital, and I hope to stay there for a long time.
That said, that response doesn't really sum up what I actually "do with my life." Sure, it's how I earn the majority of my money (The money that Uncle Same knows about at least), but there are about 8 hours per weekday, and entire weekends during which I'm also alive, and definitely not thinking about Coordinating Webs for the hospital. A more appropriate response to the "What do you do?" question would look a little like this:
"For 40ish hours a week, I work at a hospital, but I'm really passionate about photography, and have been trying for a few years to learn and practice as much as I can so that I can make a name for myself, and create an at least somewhat successful side business -- not only through selling fine art prints of my landscape photography, but also through portrait and wedding gigs. And when I'm not working at the hospital, or thinking about photography, I'm neck deep in home renovation projects -- both at my house and Autumn's. I could really see a future for myself in property flipping, or even as a licensed contractor (Not an Interior Decorator. A contractor. It's more manly, I promise you). And when I'm not working at the hospital, thinking about photography or renovating my house, I'm planning my path to become an executive at the hospital. I'm currently in the process of applying to grad school for a Master's degree in Health Administration. What else, what else, what else? I've had legitimate urges to abandon my current life path, and try my hand at law enforcement, or some sort of intelligence work (Yes, this could very possibly be a symptom of watching too many shows like Psych, or Chuck, or Monk, but it's something I've thought very seriously about). Oh, yeah -- I'm also training for a triathlon, and plan to, some day, race to compete (not just to complete)."
The point I'm trying to make is, I'm not happy with one life path, and I'm too impatient to think "Oh, that's something I can do when I'm older." Or, "I'll just reach one goal, and move on to the next afterward." I think a common thought among my generation is that once you start your adult life, the rest of your days will be dull and monotonous until you're finally set free by the sweet release of death. And that's why I feel many of my peers try to become worldly by traveling the globe (and putting their future on hold in the meantime). I feel like I can make my life interesting not by where I go, but what I do (In whatever location I may be).
And really, who has the time to do just one thing at a time?
