What do you do?

I was always told that whatever your choose to do, pick something that you love because you are going to be doing it for most of your life.  It used to seem so simple.  I had many passions and interests.  How hard could it be to translate one into a career?  My eight year old self felt that when the time came it would be difficult to choose between artist, author, dancer, or mail delivery person.

As I approached college graduation in May 2011, my reality could not have been farther from my childhood perception.  In many ways my fate was more certain than that of my friends and classmates: I had met the love of my life in high school and after seven years of dating we were tying the knot in August.  Brian was just finishing up his first year of law school and after the wedding I would be moving to Lexington, Virginia with him.

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“What do you do?”

I get this question a lot.  Increasingly so over the last couple of months, when most people I come into contact with are strangers.  I’ll be at the bank, at a social function with Brian, the grocery store… people will take one look at me and try to figure out what I am doing here.  If they don’t know already, I will explain that I recently got married and that my husband is a law student.  The next question is invariably some form of, “What do you do?”

I know that it’s a natural question.  It’s how everyone’s brain works.  Some days I don’t feel like playing along.

“Well I eat, breathe, sleep, read blogs, and do dishes.  Is that not what you meant?”

Just kidding, I never say that.  Instead I explain that I am substitute teaching while searching for something more permanent.  That is my standard answer.  Lately I’ve been courageous enough to slip in that I’m trying to get into web design.

I feel a little disappointed with myself when I give my answer, but the truth of the matter is that I don’t know what I want to “do.”  I put it in quotes because I do know what I want to do.  I want to work with people and make pretty things.  I want to be creative.  I’m just not sure how that translates into a paying career right now, one that fits into a neat little box with a one word title.

So instead I am going to do those things here.  I’m going back to my roots.  The first thing I remember ever wanting to be is an artist.  You can bet your bottom dollar that there is no way I’m walking around telling people that I’m an artist.  That is false.  But I’m going to draw and paint.  And take some pictures.  I hope you’ll join me and tell me all about what you’re making and how you go about it.

Check back later this afternoon when I post my first set of pictures!