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Pearls of wisdom, inappropriate thoughts and the occasional rant. |
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The past few years have seen me struggle to define myself as more than a mother, wife, or daughter. While these are worthy roles, I selfishly yearn to be more than the caretaker that holds the threads of my family together. Growing up, I found myself constantly trying new sports and hobbies but dropping the endeavors as soon as my interest waned. Watching my friends choose a college major or otherwise start their lives knowing exactly what they were meant to accomplish brought about a sense of failure because I couldn't settle on one path. Now, however, I've made peace with myself and accepted that it's okay for me to be a jack of all trades yet master of none. It's this contentment that allowed me to fall down the rabbit hole of tax law. Now that the 2021 tax year has come to an end, I can say without a doubt that I'm doing the right thing by pursuing this new interest. I successfully participated in the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. More importantly, I enjoyed it. Although I'm already qualified to prepare most federal income tax returns, I've decided to take it a step further and study to take the Enrolled Agent exam. My mother thinks this is another whim, which it may be, but does it really matter? In two years, I could be an Enrolled Agent for the IRS or just well versed in federal taxation. Even if my interest wanes, it enables me to help others, which is hardly a bad thing. It's true, I'm not a numbers person. I much prefer to surround myself with literary texts than mathematical manuals, but is there any harm in furthering my education? Perhaps, if nothing else, I'm showing Ravyn that it's okay to be unsure of your future. At 17, she doesn't have her life mapped out in minute detail. What she knows is that she'll graduate high school at the end of this year and wants to have a career involving animals. Why do we feel the need to compare ourselves to others? If we've learned anything since 2019, let it be that we can't count on life being wrapped up in a pretty package. The world changes. Knowing we have the ability to adapt and the determination to roll with the punches is one of the greatest lessons we can master. |