Hello Joseph,

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself through this forum.  That in itself shows your courage and commitment to discovering answers.   I am 61 years old and can honestly say that I have had multiple jobs over my lifetime.  I started in the culinary profession and after becoming a single mother, went to school and began working in human services. Many positions I left because I wasn’t feeling fulfilled, others to be in a position where I was earning a bit more pay,  and still others I left because I was working for employers that were toxic in some way.  I beat myself up about my “roller coaster” career path for years.  It was only after getting into the workforce development field that I began to realize that our careers do not define us and that we should begin looking at our career path as a journey, not a one-time destination.  Many people in your age group do not work for the same employer for decades it is very common for people to change jobs every few years.  Changing a job mindfully, because you are not happy or want to move on for better pay etc.. is different and very common. It sounds, at least through your post, that you haven’t found your niche yet and are cycling through jobs that you don’t find fulfilling.  I currently don’t enjoy the job I have but I decided, that until I find a role that better suits me, I will find something each day that I enjoy about my current position.  I can work from home without anyone breathing down my neck, which is a plus. I’ve learned over the years that I do best in a quiet environment without drama or being micromanaged so I look for jobs that fit that profile.

A step you may want to take is to go to your local Department of Labor or someplace like that to see if they offer career counseling.  They have resources to help people figure out the type of work they want to do.   Your career does not define you, so don’t let it.  Do something that brings you joy and if you haven’t found that role yet, at least do something that allows you to be who you are at your best.

Best of luck to you on this journey of self-discovery.