Having done some soul-searching at A Level, I’d decided to abandon my first love, English in favour of studying something more career-oriented at university. Or so I thought, thus proving the downside of those head versus heart decisions. The head may give you cool, sensible advice, but without the heart’s commitment and passion some of those decisions can ultimately leave you unfulfilled and wondering about what might have been. All the ‘proper job’ years might have been mentally engaging, but my creative writing ambitions gnawed away at me the whole time.
Coincidentally - and as a ‘brain rinse’ from writing – I read Rachel Hore’s lovely novel, The Dream House this week, which took me to places I know and remember in Norfolk. There’s a reference too, to the mystic, Julian of Norwich, and one of her best known phrases, ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well’. The path we follow may take us on some interesting diversions, but they make us who we are. And whilst I might not have chosen some of my diversions, hopefully, my own winding path has given me more to write about!
Here’s me then after my Congregation Ceremony with the two people who made it possible, my parents. You wouldn’t know it to look at them, but they’d just had one of the most traumatic years of their life and yet they’re smiling and looking so proud. Mum and Dad went on to triumphantly rebuild their life after a blow which would have flattened most people. And me, I finally followed my heart.
Coincidentally - and as a ‘brain rinse’ from writing – I read Rachel Hore’s lovely novel, The Dream House this week, which took me to places I know and remember in Norfolk. There’s a reference too, to the mystic, Julian of Norwich, and one of her best known phrases, ‘all shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well’. The path we follow may take us on some interesting diversions, but they make us who we are. And whilst I might not have chosen some of my diversions, hopefully, my own winding path has given me more to write about!
Here’s me then after my Congregation Ceremony with the two people who made it possible, my parents. You wouldn’t know it to look at them, but they’d just had one of the most traumatic years of their life and yet they’re smiling and looking so proud. Mum and Dad went on to triumphantly rebuild their life after a blow which would have flattened most people. And me, I finally followed my heart.
Comments
Like you, I followed my head instead of my heart, studied something I thought would be useful at a place that made sense (instead of where I'd planned) and wasted all those years, coming away with a degree I never really used and no memories of happy university days. I told my children to use their university years more wisely and to do/go where they pleased. And they did.
How i do hope it might be this year. And if it is not this year. Well, Chris, we'be got quite a few years left.
Meanwhile congrats on having your school recognize you! xo
I used to worry that I might be on the wrong path to the one I should be following, but not believe that we are where we're supposed to be for whatever reason. (That sounds completely baffling and odd).
Thank you Pondside, for sharing your experience. I think that the 'Glittering Prize' aspect of university can make it difficult to say, 'well, I wish I'd studied something I enjoyed more' so it's been great to read other people's thoughts.
Lins, yes, that's it, isn't it? I'd probably do the same again in the same circumstances, because, like you, that experience has made me the person I am today.
SBS, how lovely to see you, you uncivil servant you! Hope all is well with you... usual whirlwind?
Thanks Debs, Yes, it's all too short to do too much fluff-picking about the wrong path, let's just get on with it!
Thanks, Elizabeth, yes, it is! Except when you're young you over think it!