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I graduated college in Dec., ’21. And for the past 3.5 years, I worked for a bit, and I volunteered a significant amount of hours in my community. Food pantry support, office support, ESL teaching, graphic design. I had no real purpose or plan during this stretch of time. I was desperately trying to figure things out and forge a path forward for myself.

I don’t think this past period was a total waste of time. These days I’m pursuing an MFA in creative writing via online learning; and I recently got a job as a direct support professional/disability support professional/DSP. I think these endeavors are an extension of my prior pursuits and efforts. I majored in liberal studies during college; and I worked as a behavior tech for special-needs youth for a little bit of time, post-graduation. Maybe that’s what led me to my current situation. Maybe it’s an extension of what I did when I was younger.

I always said to myself that I wanted a fun career, something enjoyable to me. I don’t wanna do something hard or burdensome, or overly-complicated. That gets aggravating after a while. It becomes “work” that I’d just rather not do. Every career has its pros and cons, I guess. And so you have to choose something where the pros outweigh the cons, for you.

And sometimes you take the wrong steps, completely. But life and your heart always correct you. As you begin to walk on the way, the way appears, as Rumi said. And “I am, among men, most richly blessed,” as in “The Prayer of an Unknown Soldier.” Also known as “the creed of the disabled”:

I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things. 

I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise. 

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men [people].
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things. 

I got nothing that I had asked for,
but everything that I had hoped for. 

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered,
I am, among all men [people], most richly blessed.

https://firstpreswh.org/a-prayer-of-an-unknown-confederate-soldier/