A few thoughts have occurred recently

about my decision to train as a counsellor, and some frustration at why I didn't follow that path years ago. I'm playing Mah Jong Challenge at the moment and at the end of each level there's a Chinese proverb. The one that caused me to come here and post was:

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago
The second best time is today
I love that so much, and it's relevant to me and applies to my thinking right now: I regret not knowing what path to take when I left school, I'm not proud of falling into computing when I left school because I knew I didn't really want to work in an office doing programming or data entry or even design, I just wanted to innovate and create and explore. Those regrets fade into obscurity when I think that I have time now to plant seeds which will grow into great things. Knowing that I may well have found my purpose in life, I may have broken down the mental barriers to pushing myself to my full potential, to study and explore myself and psychological theory. To push myself to qualify as a counsellor is my ultimate goal, and I'm now more excited than scared to have made such a big decision. I can do this. I will enjoy doing it, and I'll enjoy the final outcome.

Training to be a counsellor is an opportunity to not only help others in a way I feel comfortable and able to do, but a chance to finally work towards understanding myself. A large part of the training and study is reflection and self-study. Understanding your own limitations, boundaries and idiosyncrasies is part of the path to empathising with those of others. What better way to continue my personal mental development than spend time developing my self-understanding, while gaining tools to help others understand themselves and a qualification which will ultimately allow me to knowledgeably and dependably lead Walking for Wellbeing forward?

Wow oh wow oh wow. Exciting times!