How Does One Find Their Path in Life?

So How Does One Find Their Path in Life?

My answer is: I wish I knew. If I could wave my magic wand and

your life’s path would magically appear, I would.

Since I do not have a magic wand nor can I tell you what to do,

the best thing I can do is to tell you what I did. And what I did was trust

my intuition, my heart, and my guts. For example, in 1973, returning

from the war, when my poor dad suggested I go back to school, get my higher degrees, and work for the government, my brain went numb, my heart went heavy and my gut said, “No way.”

When he suggested I get my old job back with Standard Oil or fly

for the airlines, again my mind, heart, and gut said no. I knew I was

through sailing and flying, although they were great professions and

the pay was pretty good.

In 1973 at the age of 26, I was growing up. I had followed my

parent’s advice and gone to school, received my college degree, and

had two professions: a license to be a ship’s officer and a license to fly. The problem was, they were professions and the dreams of a child. At the age of 26, I was old enough to know that education is a process.

For example, when I wanted to be a ship’s officer, I went to a school that turned out ships’ officers. And when I wanted to learn to fly, I went to Navy flight school, a two-year process that turns non-pilots into pilots. I was cautious about my next educational process. I wanted to know what I was going to become before I started my next educational process.

Traditional schools had been good to me. I had achieved my

childhood professions. Reaching adulthood was confusing because

there were no signs saying,

“This is the way.”

I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I did not know what I wanted to do. It would have been simple if all I wanted was a new profession.

If I had wanted to be a medical doctor, I would have gone to medical

school. If I had wanted to be a lawyer, I would have gone to law

school. But I knew there was more to life than just going to school to

gain another professional credential.

I did not realize it at the time, but at 26 years of age, I was now

looking for my path in life, not my next profession.