The Next Half
September 23, 2013 3:43 PM Subscribe
Earlier this year, I realized that I'd checked off pretty much everything on my to-do list. My life hasn't been a blazing success by any means - I had a dozen modest goals that I chipped away at for the better part of 15 years, and now I find myself looking for something bigger to do.
Extra info: I'd like to spend the next half of my life less selfishly than I spent the first one, and apply my talents where they are needed, or could result in greater fulfillment for someone else. I would also like bigger goals. Ones requiring focus, concentration, and commitment. I've spent a few months thinking it over. Still haven't made much progress. I know what I'm good at, and I'm pretty sure that's keeping me from coming up with better ideas.
Specs: mid-30s. Partnered; no kids. Not geographically restricted at the moment. Low debt; employer may pay for some schooling (50% chance within the next year). Multilingual; trained as a communications specialist and event organizer.
So, what's next? What big thing did you or would you tackle?
Extra info: I'd like to spend the next half of my life less selfishly than I spent the first one, and apply my talents where they are needed, or could result in greater fulfillment for someone else. I would also like bigger goals. Ones requiring focus, concentration, and commitment. I've spent a few months thinking it over. Still haven't made much progress. I know what I'm good at, and I'm pretty sure that's keeping me from coming up with better ideas.
Specs: mid-30s. Partnered; no kids. Not geographically restricted at the moment. Low debt; employer may pay for some schooling (50% chance within the next year). Multilingual; trained as a communications specialist and event organizer.
So, what's next? What big thing did you or would you tackle?
1. Join the Peace Corps
2. Travel around the world
3. Through-hike the Appalachian Trail
4. Bicycle across the U.S. or Europe
5. Write a book about any of the above
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:02 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
2. Travel around the world
3. Through-hike the Appalachian Trail
4. Bicycle across the U.S. or Europe
5. Write a book about any of the above
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:02 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Write a terrible cop movie.
posted by mochapickle at 4:03 PM on September 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 4:03 PM on September 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
I've been looking into disaster preparedness stuff as something that would help me interact with my community (a rural one that was severely impacted by Hurricane Irene) and use some of my decent librarianing skills and crisis management stuff.
You can break this down into parts (and I'm sure other people who know more than I do can help)
- Red Cross First Aid courses
- First responder training
- Volunteer as a disaster volunteer with the Red Cross. FEMA has links to a few more options.
- Learning about things like psychological first aid and other things that are needed during disasters
I think one of the things that I realized thinking about the "what's next" angle was that being a small part of a larger thing was more along the lines of what I wanted to do. So you could play a small-but-essential role in something in your community (I became an elected Justice of the Peace) doing something that you care about.
posted by jessamyn at 4:09 PM on September 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
You can break this down into parts (and I'm sure other people who know more than I do can help)
- Red Cross First Aid courses
- First responder training
- Volunteer as a disaster volunteer with the Red Cross. FEMA has links to a few more options.
- Learning about things like psychological first aid and other things that are needed during disasters
I think one of the things that I realized thinking about the "what's next" angle was that being a small part of a larger thing was more along the lines of what I wanted to do. So you could play a small-but-essential role in something in your community (I became an elected Justice of the Peace) doing something that you care about.
posted by jessamyn at 4:09 PM on September 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
What are your values? What type of communally-oriented activity appeals most to you? Activism, less politicized community service, or more individualized volunteer work?
posted by eviemath at 4:13 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by eviemath at 4:13 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Volunteer for Big Brothers & Big Sisters.
Take up a community / charity cause and run a year-long fundraising effort.
Study Buddhism.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:40 PM on September 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Take up a community / charity cause and run a year-long fundraising effort.
Study Buddhism.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:40 PM on September 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Become a mentor.
Sit on the board of a nonprofit.
Volunteer to fundraise for a good cause.
Donate blood.
Get involved with your city council (helps school kids, taxpayers, the physically handicapped, etc.).
Start microlending in your community.
Help out at Planned Parenthood.
Volunteer at a library, school, nursing home, DV shelter, etc.
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:16 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sit on the board of a nonprofit.
Volunteer to fundraise for a good cause.
Donate blood.
Get involved with your city council (helps school kids, taxpayers, the physically handicapped, etc.).
Start microlending in your community.
Help out at Planned Parenthood.
Volunteer at a library, school, nursing home, DV shelter, etc.
posted by runningwithscissors at 6:16 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like the mentor youth idea. So many kids without proper guidance. You could helps hundreds of kids in you lifetime which then go on to influence the world in may ways. When I get established and have a life outside of school, this is what I'm going to do.
posted by eq21 at 6:28 PM on September 23, 2013
posted by eq21 at 6:28 PM on September 23, 2013
Mod note: A number of people have suggested "have kids" and - just to let people know - we've been removing those comments because it sounds like OP is looking for suggestions involving work/hobby/volunteerism type goals rather than family type goals. OP, if you are open to "have kids" suggestions, by all means say so. Otherwise let's stick to the non-family goals. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 PM on September 23, 2013
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:14 PM on September 23, 2013
I have been facing the same questions myself. I'm a few years older than you, but I am planning to volunteer with Saint John's. Maybe you can find something equivalent in your part of the world. I'll get first aid training, get to help people in need, and meet some new folks!
Other than that, my parents were very active with the Lions Club, and it led to lots of fun times for me as a kid, and life-long friendships for my parents.
Sorry for the Australian focus, if you're not Australian... but hopefully it might give you some ideas.
posted by Diag at 4:58 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Other than that, my parents were very active with the Lions Club, and it led to lots of fun times for me as a kid, and life-long friendships for my parents.
Sorry for the Australian focus, if you're not Australian... but hopefully it might give you some ideas.
posted by Diag at 4:58 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: OP here. Thanks for your good suggestions so far.
Phase I included running my own business, participating in a youth education service program abroad, immigration, working at a high-tech startup for a few years, getting a TEFL certificate and a Master's, and a lot of travel. I've managed to cook and write/translate for a living before settling on something that provides a steady paycheck, which is where I've been for the past few years. This phase has been very personal-development and inward-focused, and it has come to an end for various reasons, although it's been great.
As it is, I've mentored kids and spent substantial time doing community service in the past. I'm at a point where I'm looking for a challenge that involves working to shed light on or solve a structural or systemic problem. I'm not expecting to find a cure for cancer, but I have time, focus, and some resources (education plus network and international mobility) to dedicate to this.
posted by Occam's Aftershave at 5:03 AM on September 24, 2013
Phase I included running my own business, participating in a youth education service program abroad, immigration, working at a high-tech startup for a few years, getting a TEFL certificate and a Master's, and a lot of travel. I've managed to cook and write/translate for a living before settling on something that provides a steady paycheck, which is where I've been for the past few years. This phase has been very personal-development and inward-focused, and it has come to an end for various reasons, although it's been great.
As it is, I've mentored kids and spent substantial time doing community service in the past. I'm at a point where I'm looking for a challenge that involves working to shed light on or solve a structural or systemic problem. I'm not expecting to find a cure for cancer, but I have time, focus, and some resources (education plus network and international mobility) to dedicate to this.
posted by Occam's Aftershave at 5:03 AM on September 24, 2013
What country are you in? If the US, join the fight to make US immigration laws more humane? Or whatever cause animates you - child poverty? Something else? What sort of news stories do you find yourself paying attention to and getting upset over, but not so upset that you get despondent and paralyzed? For me, having a personal connection to my areas of activism is important and helpful, as well.
Step 1: google or ask on metafilter for more information and links to organizations currently doing work toward (specifically) structural change in the area you're interested in. Knowing your general geographic location would help people provide more specific answers.
Step 2: select a couple groups to look into. Go to some events and meetings of those groups. Determine which have a philosophy that you agree with, and people who you would enjoy spending time with.
Step 3: tell you selected group about your background and ask how you can get involved! I do recommend figuring out ahead of time what sort of time commitment you are willing to make and being very upfront about it. Volunteer groups *always* need more people, so when someone new comes along with a bunch of energy and enthusiasm, it's easy to try to get them to volunteer for all the activities. But you getting burnt out from doing too much won't help anyone in the long term (and if you're interested in helping to make systemic change, you should be thinking about the long term).
Or maybe there's a larger group with many local chapters that piques your interest, but no local chapter in your area yet. In that case, find/make the time to go to some event of theirs out of your local area. Really do look into if the social dynamics will energize you rather than make you exhausted. Then ask them how to start a local chapter in your area. Large groups with chapter structure will likely have guides for people trying to form new chapters, so you don't need to be experienced in this sort of organizing.
posted by eviemath at 5:46 AM on September 24, 2013
Step 1: google or ask on metafilter for more information and links to organizations currently doing work toward (specifically) structural change in the area you're interested in. Knowing your general geographic location would help people provide more specific answers.
Step 2: select a couple groups to look into. Go to some events and meetings of those groups. Determine which have a philosophy that you agree with, and people who you would enjoy spending time with.
Step 3: tell you selected group about your background and ask how you can get involved! I do recommend figuring out ahead of time what sort of time commitment you are willing to make and being very upfront about it. Volunteer groups *always* need more people, so when someone new comes along with a bunch of energy and enthusiasm, it's easy to try to get them to volunteer for all the activities. But you getting burnt out from doing too much won't help anyone in the long term (and if you're interested in helping to make systemic change, you should be thinking about the long term).
Or maybe there's a larger group with many local chapters that piques your interest, but no local chapter in your area yet. In that case, find/make the time to go to some event of theirs out of your local area. Really do look into if the social dynamics will energize you rather than make you exhausted. Then ask them how to start a local chapter in your area. Large groups with chapter structure will likely have guides for people trying to form new chapters, so you don't need to be experienced in this sort of organizing.
posted by eviemath at 5:46 AM on September 24, 2013
Subvert dominant paradigms!
Help immigrants navigate an new country, assist them in getting established (job hunting, sign up for a bank account, get housing, figure out transportation etc.
Become a rape crisis advocate or some other type of person who accompanies people to medical visits / court to provide support.
Create thorough investigative journalism pieces looking at politics and who runs what in your area.
Lobby to legalize it (be it same sex marriage, LSD, freedom of the press, whatever strikes you)
Make, grow, fix things and teach others to make, grow, fix things to support themselves.
Come up with a food distribution idea that wastes less than 40% of produce.
2nd buddhism
Track endangered species in their wild habitats.
Hang out with elderly people and record their stories and takes on life and the current state of affairs.
posted by WeekendJen at 11:01 AM on September 24, 2013
Help immigrants navigate an new country, assist them in getting established (job hunting, sign up for a bank account, get housing, figure out transportation etc.
Become a rape crisis advocate or some other type of person who accompanies people to medical visits / court to provide support.
Create thorough investigative journalism pieces looking at politics and who runs what in your area.
Lobby to legalize it (be it same sex marriage, LSD, freedom of the press, whatever strikes you)
Make, grow, fix things and teach others to make, grow, fix things to support themselves.
Come up with a food distribution idea that wastes less than 40% of produce.
2nd buddhism
Track endangered species in their wild habitats.
Hang out with elderly people and record their stories and takes on life and the current state of affairs.
posted by WeekendJen at 11:01 AM on September 24, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you have training as an event organizer and are interested in helping others and using your talents, there is certainly no shortage of small nonprofits who could use your pro bono help in throwing fundraising galas.
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:00 PM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]