I know what I want to be when I grow up…
Actually, I have always known. I knew it when I was 18 years old. I realized it again recently when I looked into the numerology of a life path number 9.
I am a humanitarian.
According to Dictionary.com, a humanitarian, is one who is concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare. That’s me.
At 15, this meant helping care for my mentally ill father.
At 18, this meant majoring in Social Work and taking classes, and learning about Jane Addams, an early Social Work pioneer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and BAD A$$ woman.
At 19, I started working with people with serious mental illnesses in residential group homes.
At 22, I was working in foster care.
At 26, I was working as a therapist.
Here I am…at…mid-40’s…and I am still a humanitarian. But I’ve been in need of a new subtitle. The world of “being a healer” has unveiled some deeeep truths and more and more, I just feel different.
One thing I don’t say enough is that I am incredibly fortunate to have my man of 22 years by my side. Lucky for me (and for all of us, I suppose), he fell in love with the humanitarian in me and told me he thought I could change the world (picture me blushing). He has never stopped reflecting me back to me, and seeing my work is a huge part of seeing me. He’s also very wise and his reflections have a tendency to make me drop my jaw to the floor.
The other day, we were talking about the things I am excited for. The communities we are creating, the content I am sharing, and the work we are doing together. As I described the meaning I was making from my work, I brought the old thread back in. The one we’ve been weaving through every conversation like this one for a while now…”but am I still a therapist? Does that make sense? Is that what I do? Is that who I am?”
Sure. That’s a sufficient title. That can summarize some things. And it certainly nods to the depth of my experience and breadth of my knowledge. I wondered, “But what is this version of me that is alive in this particular force field?” (I nod to the space between my hands, indicating the special magic of NOW).
I suddenly remembered, and told him, when I was preparing for college, I thought I wanted to be a community social worker and work in the macro field. I even made a road trip to Baltimore to look at their renowned macro Social Work program. I felt that I had settled a bit of that dream when I re-directed to the micro field of therapy. Realizing this, I said, “I think I might be a community social worker.”
“A community enlightenment social worker,” offered Nate.
Gobsmacked. That’s it. That’s what I want to be when I grow up!
Look, I don’t watch the news. But I know it’s bad. I don’t read the headlines. But I know they are scary. The work I am doing now…the work I am obsessed with…is this work. I want to work within my community to bring beings to an enlightened understanding. To help us break free from the chains of the 3D world. To re-awaken us to an inner knowing about who and what we really are.
I want to channel my heroine, Jane Addams, and foster the growth of grass root spaces where we can share how our pain intersects our hearts. I want to be in spaces where I can feel the change I want for this world.
If you want to be in an enlightening community and enjoy the fellowship of others who are healing from a lifetime of being human, reach out!