May My Work Bless the World.

I was a teacher for years and I loved it for a long while.

 Then I started working with Early Intervention and I loved that too.  There was a lot of flexibility and I was doing evaluations- it was a good change.  I loved the kids. But I knew it was not the work I was supposed to be doing forever.  I knew I wanted to have a job that was more creative and less clinical.  I wanted to be an entrepreneur.  

So I started to take classes in art and I started to make art and sell art while I still had my day job.  A lot of the time I felt terrible. I felt like I was doing something wrong because I wasn’t doing work I loved anymore and it seemed to be taking me so long to make a change.  I felt guilty because I was working in an important job, but really wanted to be doing something else.

Honestly, there was good period of time that I was so unhappy in my work and I beat myself up about it a little bit.  Then something changed.  I realized that there was reason that I was still in my job.  I decided that it wasn’t the right time for me to leave until it was the right time.  In the meantime, there was good work for me to be doing.  

I started praying to be of service.  I worked hard to change my attitude.  Some days I was really successful with a new improved attitude, some days I wasn’t.  But overall, I knew I was in the right place in the moment.  I found peace in that as much as possible.

I started working with this family that I really felt connected to.  I adored the whole family.  There was an important meeting that I attended that I think my presence there changed the outcome for future placement of this child.  The parents were grateful for me.  I new it was important work I was doing.  I knew this family was why I needed to be in my job a little longer.

The timing of leaving my teaching job was a really important experience for me.  It taught me about the right timing of things.  It taught me that everything is unfolding just as it should. 

I just needed to stay clear about what I wanted and work toward that, but also have gratitude for where I was at the time.  It was a combination of taking action for the work I wanted, while at the same time, being grateful as much as possible for the work I was doing.  I believe it was this action that helped me get to where I am now.  Once my work was finished with this family, I was able to leave my job.  And I did.  And the transition to doing art full time was (mostly) easy.  I believe it was easy because it was the right time.  I had waited long enough.

Lisa Sarick wrote this Prayer for a Work Day.  I love it so much.

Prayer for a Work Day 

Divine Spirit, please guide me today.

I am about to go out among the people.

Help me to remember that every interaction is a holy meeting,

That using my gifts and talents is a privilege,

And that if I have nothing else to offer,

I can smile,

Or listen,

Or hold still

and feel You in my heart.

Help me to be open to what you want me to hear,

To all you want me to see,

And to Your Grace in unexpected places.

May I serve with love and gratitude today

In my little corner of the Universe,

And may it somehow bless the world.