What I want to be when I grow up.

We always ask children "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and they will answer things like "A Firefighter", "A hairdresser", "A teacher", "A Barbie" (Yes, I've actually witnessed that answer), "A scuba diver" or maybe "A nurse". Regardless of what it is we've been asking that question or have been asked that question for years and years. I remember wanting to be a teacher, a veterinarian, back to a teacher, as I got older, a social worker and then going to University and being unsure of where I was headed. I worked a few jobs, a few of which I could of made "careers" out of. Then I became a Mom and that became my career. Now, as I am done having children and even though they are young and being at home with them is still priority, I often ask myself "What do you want to be when you grow up, Janna?" Now when I sit back and really think about this question, my answer has changed dramatically. 

Here is what I want to be when I grow up:

I want to be happy. 
I want to be content.
I want to be generous.
I want to be patient.
I want to be kind.
I want to be healthy.
I want to be loving.
I want to be trustworthy.
I want to be non-judgmental.
I want to be unique.
I want to be honest.
I want to be hard working.
I want to be faithful.
I want to be soulful.

I do believe you must love your job. How can you get up day in and day out if you hate your job? But, I don't think your job defines who you are. If someone asks me "What type of job do you do?" I would be happy to say "I'm a Mother of three and I work as an Educational Assistant"  but if someone says "What do you want to be when you grow up?"...well that my friend is harder to answer...I want to be a lot of things. I often think that if someone had to write a Eulogy for me, I would want them to think of me as those things. I would want to be remembered as happy and patient and kind. Or generous, caring and unique. And if I want people to remember me that way when I'm gone then I need to live that way now!