When I Grow Up I Want To Be ….

Lynn Dorman, Ph.D. // Aging, human interest

6 Comments

January 19  

When I was a kid I wanted to be a writer.

libraryI knew what writers did as I was a library aficionado. I read books about dogs and horses and wrote books about horses and dogs – even drawing my own pictures. And as I got older I had the main NY public library on 42nd Street to roam. [I think I most loved walking up the steps between the lions.]

I also recall wanting to be other things like a circus performer, a ballerina, a vet, etc. Ah the power of a child’s imagination. Then when I was in high school I wanted to be an actor or a mathematician.

How I wound up becoming a psychologist and then an attorney can be attributed to life – who I met, when I met them and where I was living at the time.

Well after Graduate School and a return to the Boston area, a friend [also a psychologist] and I seriously considered opening a restaurant. We knew the exact location we wanted but could not rent it. So my breads and salads never went public. [Friend was a soup person.]

I did get back to writing and published some research and a few textbooks – and might have kept doing that but full time academia and I parted company.

In D.C. – I almost lived at the Library of Congress and loved one job I had as I researched old Congressional Quarterly's and other ancient documents.

Now I write what I want – from my head – and often without academic research. It’s Lynn’s opinion pieces about the world of human development and politics. And my neighbors get to enjoy my breads and salads at our potlucks.

I was fine with this – but life again came a knocking and now –

ta da!

I may actually get into to the restaurant business – a pizza place family business.

When I grow up I want to write and have a restaurant.

You are never too old to do what you dreamed you wanted to do when you were a kid! [or early adult]

 

What did you want to do as a kid? did you? will you?

  • I think we actually do better as older adults pursuing our dreams. Life experiences help us better determine what would make us happy. Good luck in all your endeavours.

    • Thank you – I am getting excited about the possibility of the pizza thingie. I consider pizza one of my major food groups :-). And you are correct – as I’ve aged – I find it easier to know what I like and makes me happy – but more importantly – what I do not like.

  • When I was young, I probably said things like ‘Teacher’ or ‘Nurse’ when the ‘what do you want to be…question was thrown at me.’ I wish I’d have known at the time to say ‘entrepreneur’ instead–that would’ve turned some heads. I’ve always liked to write though, and even though I’ve been w/ the Federal Gov’t for 17 years, I hope that’s not where it ends. It’s not creative enough for my tastes 🙂 We all ultimately live the lives that were meant for us–sounds like yours has been very interesting!

    • Thank you Jenny – but take heart – the Feds can be creative 🙂 [I lived in DC for a long time].. I learned that I am a scanner – our lives do come with varied interests but also a lot of issues. But as you said – it turns out like it is supposed to

      Lynn

  • I wanted to be a fashion designer, an architect, a ballerina, and an artist. I wanted to do everything!

    And now I do – I’m a mother, lol 🙂

    • Thanks for the comment Meagan…and yes motherhood encompasses all of the above – plus a few 🙂

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    About the Author

    Native of NYC who moved a lot, got several degrees, and has been a lifelong writer and reader... I am interested in many things - and I write [and teach] about them - especially the human lifespan and healthy aging

    Lynn Dorman, Ph.D.

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