Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.  Oprah Winfrey

I just finished reading the Christmas-present-to-myself, Ken Follett’s masterpiece about 14th-century England, World Without End (hardcover edition).

I spent most of my time just enjoying the book and learning about that period in history; but, after reflecting a few days on it, I realize now that I missed an overriding principle of the whole thing as it relates to those of us trying to find our way and dream jobs in the 21st century.

And, here it is:  In that distant era, virtually 99.99 percent of all humans were subject to very strict guidelines and choices of work.  Other than a few nobles and a handful of wealthy merchants, all humans were peasants and serfs, forced to endure lifetimes of backbreaking, six or seven days a week, work on the landlord’s fields.  Today.  Tomorrow.  And, yup, for the rest of your life.

So, today, before you get too stressed out because you haven’t landed in your dream job (just yet), you might want to take a moment and be grateful for all the choices that are in front of you.

You really can be or do anything you want, you know.  (Do I sound like your mama?)  Almost without limit.  Our ancestors back in World Without End times had no choice and very real limits.

The sky’s the limit for you, though, Ms. 21st Century Citizen, so make it so!

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