“Dear Ten-Year-Old-me, You are writing books!!”
I recently read that our futures are often decided when we are ten-years-old. Our interests, skills, and dreams at age ten often materialize into career choices and life decisions. This seems about right. At age ten, I wanted to be the mother of at least ten children, and I wanted to write books like “Little Women.” I also wanted to adapt them for the stage as my friends and I did with the quite moving scene where Beth dies.
None of that has turned out exactly as I planned, of course. We only had four children, but we picked up several loaners along the way. I’ve never achieved the fame of Jo March with my writing, but I do have a few books circulating out in the world. And, they carry similar themes of family, friendship, service, and finding meaning in life. I’ve also staged a number of original plays that were good enough for the local church school audience. Mostly.
My husband, on the other hand, read a book series around age eight called “The Sugar Creek Gang.” In one passage, the narrator says that when he grows up he wants to be “A Christian doctor.” The writer elaborated a bit about what that meant, and Wendell fits it perfectly. Interesting note: He didn’t remember reading those words until we rediscovered the book a few years ago.
So, let’s put this theory to the test, shall we? What talent, interest, skill, character trait did you discover around age ten? How is it impacting your life today?
Please let us know.
When I was ten, I wanted to be either a scientist, an inventor, a nurse, or a teacher.
Well… I’m a teacher anyway. 😂
AND, I wanted to be a teacher because I thought my third grade teacher, Joyce Jones, was the best. She made learning interesting, and had a good sense of humor. She definitely made a lasting impact on my life.
What a great testament to your teacher. I think you should explore the scientist/inventor. Maybe she still has a place in your life as the girls get older.
Wow, you are so correct about the age 10 deciding our life long careers. At that age, I remember playing secretary with the old rotary phone and old manual typewriter that we had at the house. There was a little desk area on the front enclosed porch that became my working area. I wrote notes to the boss about phone calls and made lots of calls for him. It was a fun time but didn’t realize that is what I would end up doing for over 30 years!
How fun! I hope you still enjoy it as much as you did when it was pretend.