Suddenly I’m Brimming With Plans

Plans have always been a comfort thing for me.  When my life feels like it’s crashing down around me, I normally make an action-plan, and I calm down.  I like plans.  Plans provide security.

Honestly I struggle with the concept of plans a lot.  Or rather, the “morality” of them for lack of a better word.  Many times, I wonder if it’s ok to be safe – either as a result of where you live, how much money you earn, or having a plan.  I once heard that we should make plans so that we can lay them at God’s feet.  This sounds like good advice, but then again how often does Christian radio tell you something you don’t want to hear?

Regardless, I have a lot of plans for my life, but nothing I am holding onto so tight I won’t let God take it.  I think that’s healthy, but who am I?  Anyway, I plan to become a comic-book writer.  I wrote a whole script, and plotted the series out, in detail, for eighteen months (and less detailed for another 20, with vague ideas for another 12 or so).  I have everything I need done, and all I have to do is mail it in.  If everything works out the way I’d like it, I end up with my dream job.  From there I become a bigger name, move into the television industry, and write my two favorite mediums of story-telling for as long as I want.  Sweet.

Of course, life doesn’t always go according to plan, which is why I have what my parents would call “a real major” – Financial Services & Planning.  Basically that means I tell people what to do with their money.  Awesome, because people are stupid, and need someone to tell them that.  Honestly, I think I could do that for a living and be perfectly happy.  It would certainly provide security, and it is something I enjoy.

Recently, however, I’ve been realizing more and more that I really like fitness and nutrition.  The Biggest Loser makes me so happy.  I think I could make a really good personal trainer.  I think it’s kind of the same skills as a Financial Planner – encourage people, but kick them in the rear to get them moving.  Working out and eating right is something I really enjoy, but moreover, I really get a kick out of other people doing it too.

So with that in mind, I feel like I have two options in front of me post-graduation (assuming that the comic doesn’t work out immediately).

My first idea is to go to Grad School.  Now, if you know me, that might shock you.  If you don’t know me that well, here is why that is a strange thing for me to say (get ready for a no-punctuation, stream-of-consciousness rant): Basically I think that people my age have been so petrified of living in the real world because their parents emotionally handicapped them as children that they will do whatever it takes to delay reality until they feel ready which generally means going to grad school.  In addition I have been tired of school since mid-high school and I don’t really feel like college has been an extremely rewarding experience thus far and I really just want it to end so I can get on with the parts of life I am looking forward to (wife, kids, herb garden, vegetable garden, house, lawn, company barbeques, little-league games, family reunions, etc).  Now, back to what I was really saying.  I seriously see grad school as an option.  I kind of always figured I’d go to grad school for something, but it would be a few years after I was done with college.  Personally I hope to go to A&M grad school.  I don’t know if that makes you an official Aggie, but it’s enough for me.   So yeah, go to grad school, get a Masters in Nutrition or Kinesiology, and become a personal trainer.  Not that you need a masters, but it doesn’t hurt.  It also adds versatility to my resume.

Option Two is something that only recently came to me as well.  All my life, I’ve had great skill at languages.  When I lived in Norway, I was put into the Advanced Norwegian class after just a month or two of being in the country (although they later put me in Intermediate because Advanced was only for native speakers).  I took French in high school, and besides finding it easy, I still retain a ton of it, even after almost five years.  I also took Japanese, and didn’t find it that hard either.  I also really like travelling, and Europe.  So when I put those together, combined with my degree, I came up with “Banker in Switzerland.”  I figure I’d need a little more skill in both French and German to be desirable as an employee, so I’m thinking I might try to spend a year or two teaching English (another passion of mine) in Switzerland while I learn French and German, and then try to get a job in the Banking Center of the world.

Anyway, I was just really excited about these options, and thought I had to share.  Of course I still hope the comic works out, but as far as back-up plans go, these are pretty wonderful.  Besides, if all else fails, I’m joining the Amish, a monastery, or a farm.