What's the Destination after You've Been Behind the Wall?

Often while attending school, this question would arise, “What will you choose as your profession?” Now after completing a career in Law Enforcement I can honestly say, I had no clue.

Although I understood, as most of my friends did, that a good education would grant a good job; I had no idea what that job would be. For a long time I thought about being a Pediatrician, however, it not only entailed years of schooling but dabbling with needles. I have not yet eased the queasy feeling whenever I think of needles. So there was no need to think my name would follow Dr. I thought about teaching but decided there were days when my patience would wear thin. I wasn’t built for temporary positions and sought to find something “comfortable”. As fate would have it, I learned to do various jobs within the jobs I held prior to landing a job in the Department of Corrections.

Reflecting, I can see how each job gave me a step toward …….a predetermined destination. I do believe experiences, lessons, and even mistakes prepare us for our purpose. I was writing poetry and penning thoughts at an early age. Not really keeping them for any reason but today I see the connection. It stands true, there is a connection on the path to my chosen career as well. I learned to communicate, type and designate professionally in prior jobs; I experienced people with personal concerns, complaints and problems on a daily basis; and my challenges were found when working with youth I came upon dead ends, complications, and often had to re-write guidelines rules and regulations. None of those jobs connected but they prepared me for my career.

“… I do believe experiences, lessons, and even mistakes prepare us for our purpose.”

There’s a saying that nothing can compare you for the daily routine you’ll face “behind the wall”. I’ve promised myself to write the book or maybe two to purge myself of what has been a mind blowing twenty five years. But this career as set me closer to being one that has fulfilled my purpose. I’ve used my past and the years completed to guide me into entrepreneurship. I understand long hours, I have patience where others would look the other way, I communicate on all levels, and I can evaluate a situation without asking questions. These skills often take a life time to master, but behind those walls the quicker you learn the better you’ll benefit yourself and others.

One has to retain these lessons and regain who they are when they retire. You become whole again not having to change your thought process or work on the pretense of knowing what’s going on. Behind the walls is a challenge every day, every moment, every encounter and without self skills you’ll fail. What’s the destination? Life….to live it to the fullest, be happy and healthy, enjoy peace of mind, peace of soul, have a good bill of health and your family.

“Life….to live it to the fullest, be happy and healthy, enjoy peace of mind, peace of soul, have a good bill of health and your family. “

My walls were the brick and mortar facilities I walked through over the past twenty five years. What walls have you created? In your home, your career choice, your finances, your family or maybe you have separated yourself and dared others to step behind the wall with you. Don’t wait to escape only to find who you were is not who you are or who you were meant to be. Take your lessons and your skills and make plans, for your destination awaits your arrival. You can’t get there until you take the steps toward your future. There’s connections in your life, the puzzle is almost complete, move on that vision, dream or even just that small thought. Step out, break out, find yourself and you’ll find what you’re waiting for is waiting for you to make a decision to be