A Case of the Mondays

Lately I have found myself more burned out than usual towards my "real" job. I am not sure if its because the clinic is always busier in the summer and I pick up more hours or if I have just been doing it too long. Normally its those clients that drive you nuts that get me or other workplace drama but lately its been the animals. People often say "oh you work at a vet clinic so you must play with puppies and kittens all day!" Um I wish. Sure there are puppies and kittens that come in and theres often a fight over who helps in those appointments but for every puppy there is 2 sick or old dogs. Its the sadness that's been getting me. Watching an owner cry because their 6 year old dog has cancer or an old mans heart break when he learns his best friend wont make it. Or seeing people who just don't care for their animals, who bring them in when their wounds start to make a mess on carpet. Lately its been too much for me. Normally I can turn my brain off to that, but I am just tired, burned out and want to stay home safe in my studio.

These feelings led to a discussion with my husband this weekend about other jobs. Majoring in art is something I will never regret however I am not sure if it left me with a lot of marketable job skills. I thought about the things I am interested in and realized most I would have to go back to school to do. Like being a librarian, interior designer or a pastry chef. There are a lot of hats I have always wanted to try on. Unfortunately my inner artist makes me a dreamer and like many dreamers I find it hard to focus on one thing and that includes classes and school. I am not going to go back to school,  I have no interest in taking out more student loans. For now I will stay at the clinic because its hours are somewhat flexible and I cant find another job good enough for me to leave.

I often remind myself that I wont work at the clinic forever and someday I will do whatever I want to do, be it ceramics or making doughnuts. Five years ago if you had asked me if Chris and I would someday own a  house and I would be able to work part time I would have told you no way, so when I get burned out I remember that things can change quickly and its tortoise that won the race, slow and steady working towards a goal. It wont make watching a euthanasia any easier but it gives me something to keep in front of my mind,  a dream to actually focus on and keep my anchored when other things get to be too much.

What other dreams have you had? Do you find yourself wishing you had other hats to put on? What keeps you sane when the "real" world is too much?