Posted: 10/6/2006 11:06:12 AM EDT
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There is a lot of wisdom on this board so I am seeking your advice on a major life decision. Four twenty years, I have had a career as a tool and die maker. I built several molds, including a mold for dog bowls and doghouses. The end products were sold in Wal-Mart stores. Chances are if you have a dog, you might be using something that I helped create. Looking back on my life I can see how I have always been a perfectionist, never quite living up to my full potential in my mind. I have never been at complete peace in this world because I have very high expectations of myself. It is kind of funny that I have always looked at my life every four years to monitor my progress. It was never quite good enough. I would think that I could have graduated from college in the time that I spent doing whatever I was doing at the time. Now, after almost thirty years I am in my second year in college. There are specific events that sparked my interest in psychology. The first event occurred over twenty years ago in a treatment center for alcohol and drug abuse. It was there that I learned about the disease of alcoholism. When I was released from the treatment center after thirty days, I felt better than I had in many years. I wanted to go to school and become an alcohol and drug rehabilitation counselor. Instead, I got a job as an apprentice tool and die maker. It has been a very good trade but it is not where my heart is. I have always felt that I should be doing more with my life. About three or four years ago I met a young guy who had the same dream that I had twenty years before. When he told me how he was going to go to school and become a counselor, I thought to myself that he would never do it. However, I did not want to step on his dream. Many things have happened in the last few years to lead me to start on the path of my dream. I had reached the point in my career where I was making good money, had three weeks vacation, and as a supervisor I didn’t have to work too hard. Still, I had the feeling that I should be doing something else. I should fulfill my dream and become an Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. My father passed away a couple years ago and that got me thinking about how short this life really is. I decided that I wanted to live the rest of my life doing what I wanted to do and not just working at a job because I could make good money at it. I began to search for what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I checked into several businesses that I thought I might enjoy. I read some self help books. Than I ran into that young guy again he was still going to school as a psychology major. I remember thinking that I could have been doing that too. One night I was in bed thinking about what I should do with the rest of my life. Then it hit me, a light came on. It finally became clear that I would live my dream. For me, the ideal career would allow me to utilize my twenty years of sobriety to help alcoholics and drug addicts. Some of my personal strengths are speaking, listening, and motivating others, planning and problem solving. I will need to get a Masters degree in psychology so that I can utilize my many years of supervisory experience. I hope to use my life skills and experience, coupled with a Masters degree in psychology to help as many people as I can. Should I sell my Frankford Arsenal M-16 M-4 which I bought in 98 but to be honest I only shoot 3or 4 times a year? Or should I sell my motor cycle which I ride a lot but I could replace after collage? If I sell the M-16 I am afraid that I will not be able to justify buying another one as the price for a transferable one is way more than they are worth. If I sell either one of these I should be able to pay off some bills and live on what I make. I will not be gun less if I sell the m-16 as I own some AR-15’s and some nice Ak’s but I do not want to sell all my other guns because it has taken 30 years to collect them.   Thanks, I will check back later. |
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Sell the bike. BTW, Tool and Die maker is an honorable trade. Nothing to be ashamed of there. But, with that said, you should follow your dream - if you get there and still aren't fulfilled - I suggest exploring your spiritual health. Hope can really make a difference in your life. |
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Kind of a predicament. I could see being happier if you got rid of the rifle.. but financially it might not be the best of choices, I guess. Bikes definitely don't appreciate in value. Although, if you don't shoot it that often, but you ride the bike a lot and enjoy it, it would seem easier to ditch the rifle. Honestly... I would probably get rid of the rifle. It's definitely nice to have, but if you're not using it as often as it should be used.. and you ride your bike a lot.. seems you'd probably be happier having the bike. But that's just me. |
