As a New York Feng Shui Consultant, I sometimes wonder what I would be doing-right now-if I hadn't followed my love of Feng Shui. I wonder where I would be and how happy I would be doing something else instead of the very thing that I LOVE.
I received a call from a potential client today about a Feng Shui Consultation in a part of New York I don't normally go to because of the distance. As we spoke, I could HEAR her voice "light up" at the thought of having a consultation. Though she's read about Feng Shui for a very long time, many of the things confuse her.
She has just purchased a new home and is waiting for her closing date---and finally going to have her first Feng Shui Consultation. As I heard her speak, I too was affected. No matter how long you practice this lovely art, many things amaze me still: The wonderful results my clients have, the phone calls and emails and the incredible changes that take place in their lives that they are kind enough to share with me.
No doubt this person heard it in MY voice as well. Whether we are Real Estate Agents who are seeing the market through a very challenging time or a Home Stager who has had difficulty getting the word out that Staging is essential to successful sales, we stick it out and do what we LOVE.
I read so many blogs on Activerain and I've read so many struggles....and have seen, over and over, that those of us who LOVE WHAT WE DO STAY WITH WHAT WE DO. It's a part of us, not just what defines us.
So, if you hadn't followed YOUR Path-the one you were MEANT to be on, what would you be doing now? And how happy do you think you'd be?
http://www.LongIslandFengShui.com
**Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island and New York Along with Feng Shui Consultant Laura Cerrano, on site Feng Shui Consultations are provided for New York City, Queens and all of Long Island.
I've had many jobs and loved doing all of them....because I was doing what I liked to do ...at the time. things change and if I had to do something else I would. It would depend on the situation or circumstance I think.
Carol, well said, we stay because we love it.
This is a great, thought provoking post. I think that just as we grow, which always includes some amount of change, that our loves can change. It may always be there somewhere but it may cease to be central as its use, benefit, and relevance in our lives shifts with the changes we experience through growth. There is a saying that was intended to describe the biological and physical evolution of living organisms but I think it can aptly apply philosophically here as well: "All organisms must evolve or they stagnate and die."
If I had to it all over again I think I would have become a Physical Therapist. That always interested me but I never followed up on it.
Carole..This is a good question..All i know is when i love to do something I do it well..and I love selling Real Estate..My other love is Art in this business we do get to be somewhat creative..I want to stay in Real Estate..Thank you for another wonder
ful post
HelpfulHannah your friend in Philadelphia
Carole - I've had many jobs over the years some I liked and some I did not. I can't imagine now after being in real estate for over 10 years facing challenges and struggles along the way of ever doing anything else. It is what i truy love to do!
Carole ~ Like many others, I feel so lucky to be able to do what I truly love and what inspires me to get up each day looking forward to the next adventure! I've had several fulfilling careers and approached each one with excitement. But being able to use my creativity as well as my business experience in my present career, I know I've really found my niche. Thanks for another great post.
Carole, I love what I do and would not be happy doing anything else at the moment that I am aware of.
I can honestly say that real estate is a job that I was meant to do and I love it. I've had plenty of jobs that I liked but not loved as much as this one.
Thanks for another wonderful blog article Carole. I am doing what I love and am meant to do.
Many of my friends know me as "The Five Year Man" because I tend to go to something new every five years so I don't get bored. My path is a strange one. What would I liked to have become? A professional landscaper with the hugest plant nursery in the nation. I still have dreams of owning a plant nursery.
Hi friend....what would I be doing? I think I am doing what I love. Writing is my first love, always has been, so in a way Real Estate has allowed me to find this platform, and a few others.
Way back when in elementary school and junior high school, when they tested us to see what our career aptitude was, my results always came back as 1) a doctor, 2) a teacher or 3) a nurse. They must have been pretty close in their evaluations, as I did 17 years in emergency medicine, then moved on to real estate (I liken this to the teacher portion). But for the here and now ... I'm right where I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing ... and the rest is up for grabs. :)
Good Morning Carole!
It's clear to see that Feng Shui and helping people through your special gift are clearly what you are meant to be doing.....I'm so glad you followed your heart (Tom B always says your heart is a compass and won't steer you wrong). ((-:
I love helping people find and purchase their perfect home....expecially first time buyers. Other than that, I would like to be a naturopath or a science fiction author living on the Beara Peninsula in Ireland.
~Jo
I guess many of us are blessed to be doing what we are doing now. It took many years of hard work to get to do want I love and it was so worth it!
Sally, You've been lucky my friend. Many of my jobs from long ago I was VERY unhappy in. It took me many years to finally find what I LOVE.
Missy, I can't imagine what else I'd want to do.....I don't think there is anything else.
Rich, I agree with you completely and believe one of the reasons I love my profession is that I will never be able to learn all that I want to--the growing never stops and the learning never stops.
Dan, I thought of that myself years ago...I would love to help people heal and believe very much in physical therapy. I didn't persue it either but I ended up where I was meant to be.
Hannah, I love art as well, particuarly certain types of art but I can't draw or paint to save my life. I so admire those that have a gift for it!
Donna, Any of us that has stuck out a profession through good times and bad must do it because we love it. We've all seen some hard and not so difficult times but never give up!
Maureen, You made a wonderful point, it is one of the reasons I love to get up every morning...I love meeting new people who are like minded and love helping. And so glad we both stuck it out.
Maria, I couldn't think of another thing myself. As long as I keep learning in this field I am happy. I always like to learn something new and it seems I always am :)
Liz, I have only really enjoyed two jobs before....that's not a lot! I'm not sure, though, if I can say I LOVED them....until now.
Cathy, I can tell by your beautiful work that you love what you do....it shows in your pictures and other home stagers. You couldn't be that good if you didn't.
Russel, It may just happen---and bet it would if you put a lot of Energy into it. Dreams are really just goals and it's amazing how many goals we've already reached in life.
Kathy, You have a gift for writing, that's for sure! Maybe you should work on a book? I think it would just flow out of you without much thought. I wonder if you've tried it......
Carol, How did I not know you spent so many years in Emergency Medicine?? I've read the MeMe's over the years, did I miss it? It's funny but we were give the aptitude tests as well and I don't remember what it said I would be best at--wish I did :)
Jo, Wise words from Tom and I believe he's very right! I can't imagine what else I would be doing or if there is anything else I would LOVE so much. I have not heard of the Island in Ireland but it must be beautiful if you'd want to live there!
Kimberly, It DID take many years for me and well and it was SO worth it. There is nothing else I would rather be doing
Carole - I've also had many hats (jobs) and have done my best to learn and grow with them as times change...I once asked my Mom why she sang when cleaning house...she answered wisely - no matter what you are doing - if you have the attitude of being thankful that you are healthy enough and physically/mentally capable with God given gifts to do it - do it well and with JOY :)
Great post!
Sincerely,
Grace
Carole, we stay, because we love what we do; but sometimes life throws us a wrench, and we may find ourselves having to do something else.
I didn't always do this ... but life had different plans for me at the time, and I ended up here; and found that I love it. On the other hand, I also loved what I was doing before.
If I wasn't doing this, I've been told many times I'd make a great teacher (and I know I'd love that too). :) If there's a type of job that has me reading for a living, I will love that too. :)
I have come to the conclusion that when God gives you lemons you learn to make really good lemonade. (Don't misunderstand... I love lemonade and I love what I do, but way back when, I never would have believed it, if anyone had told me I'd be doing this and loving it.)
I think if we accept what we're given at the time we given 'it', and we decide we are going to do it well, I believe we will.
Yes we can. :)
Interesting, I went to a networking dinner last night, and several ladies in the group described their path to where they are. The career paths were seemingly disjointed to me, but the person speaking each saw her own path as very natural. Because my path has been so "straight arrow" (all interconnected fields) I admired their tenacity to "find their bliss", some 20 and 30 years into adulthood.
I think I've followed many paths, and each one leads to another path. The one I'm on right now makes me the happiest, and this one too was with it's own twists and turns. Right now I'm the happiest I've ever been. I think my clients can tell that I love what I do and I'm good at it.
Thanks for the thought provoking blog.
hi Carole, if I could have gotten thru calculus in college I would have become a veterinarian but that dream died quickly, math was not my strong suit.
So I ended up composing music for commercials for 10 years, then trading the NASDAQ stock market and eventually fell into the art world by accident. The tech stuff is just for fun but it all sort of worked out fine. The thing about loving what we do, it helps get us thru those occasional rough spots. Nite C...
P.S. Gorgeous photo in your post, where is that?
Carole - it is important to really enjoy what we do. I really enjoy the creative part, and also there is opportunity to learn every single day.
Carole, great point. I used to be a producer for many years before having my first child. The hours were often long and the work was stressful. I didn't feel it was a great fit with being a mom. Now that I have my own business, the hours can be even longer and the stress is ever present. But I do love what I do - I think you have to love it when you're a Stager because most of us sure aren't in it for the money!
I still love staging and am adjusting quickly to having added my REALTOR title in. Now I can stick with my clients to the (hopefully quick and productive) end!
Carole, I don't know if I will ever be able to answer that question. There are many things I love about real estate and about the non-profit work I do but I will always to open to new opportunities!
Grace, I have said it before and will say it again, I love your mother! What an amazing attitude and spirit....long before we were "taught" to think about being positive and looking on the bright side she already know. No wonder you are so special!
Syvie, Life certainly CAN throu you...but I can't help but think you still are so fortunate to have found yourself in other professions that you love. I worked for years at some jobs I didn't like at all and one I dreaded going into each day no matter how hard I tried. I believe if it weren't for that experience, though, I would not have left the "corporate world" and started doing Feng Shui full time. Yes, we CAN :)
Linda, What a nice thing to read, especially in light of all the people I know who hate their jobs and really don't care about the people they work with or for. I, too, am happy despite issues that crop up here and there and they always work out for the best. I live with gratitude...much like you!
Marti, The photo is from Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island. I loved it as well....It's hard to believe with your incredible talent for ART that you fell into it "accidentally." Then again, I don't believe in accidents. I just referrred you to a client who loves abstract art and was looking for some really special pieces....your artwork truly is amazing.
Sharon, I love learning as well one one of the things I love about Feng Shui...there is ALWAYS more to learn no matter how much you know. It is an endless study....
Annie, I'm sure it's not about the money, it isn't for me, either. You never know when your next job is coming but they always turn up when you need them. I was very fortunate to be able to stay home for a few years when my children were little but then it was back to working long, long hours. I'm always grateful for that time with them, though.
Kathleen, Congratulations to you! You can surely help your clients from start to finish now and they won't have to look for other people or wonder is taging really works...you have the track record to prove it!
Diane, I could see you as a photographer with your lovely photos of Lake Korman! I don't think for me there IS anything else I would want to do. I love many different things but I can't even imagine doing anything else.
Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but my first love is travel. So my dream job would be a travel writer for a magazine and to be in Tuscany right now. But that's also how I get inspiration and ideas for staging, from traveling.
Carole - Very thought provoking post ... Barrie has a saying he uses all the time "the more things change the more they remain the same". In looking at what we have done in life that we love, look for similarities and we will likely find that people were always a big part of it.
Hi Carole-Like this post as I do all of yours. I have had many jobs over the years and most all of them I liked but the thing I have always wondered is where I would be if I had taken over my parents vending business. I will never have the answer to that though. Have a wonderful Sat. <SMILE>
Great question. I try not to go down that road, because the possibilities are endless. For now this is the right thing to be doing.