Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

Have paid for a rather expensive refresher course for my non-musical ex-job that I am not really that keen to return to. Said course is tomorrow.

Shall I go - in which case, there is a good chance that I will run screaming from the building at coffee time.....or shall I cut my losses and stay home?

Are you likely to gain anything from going, Sue? Is the course material anything that you can apply to the work you do now? (I know it's a non-musical course, but I have been able to apply quite a lot of my nursing courses to music..for example: motivating people etc.)

If the answer is "no" and you don't mind losing the fees, then I wouldn't bother to be honest!

From how you have worded your opening post it sounds like you have already made your mind up! Doesn't really sound like there is much chance of anything positive coming from this (or is there?)

Unless you feel there is a possibility of it beneficial for you, I would be tempted to have a lazy Sunday morning instead

Is there a chance that you ' ll regret not going?

and if so, at least if you go and then run screaming from the building at coffee time you will have your answer!

Will it be enjoyable or dull? Will there be a good lunch? Will it take long to get to the venue? Could someone else take your place?

IF I go, I suppose I can collect an attendance certificate and get the info, so that IF I decide to go back to the job, I can show that I've done a bit of CPD this year and actually be slightly more up to date than I would otherwise be.

Brimming with enthusiasm, me.

Less than an hour away, nice lunch probably, but will be a very intense day. I went to the same course a few years back and did indeed leave at the first opportunity. Its a good course, but I'm not sure I can face it.

I think you've answered your own question! Have a nice lie in tomorrow!

Clearly.

Well who knows, you may meet some interesting people... Oh, and congratulations on your 99th birthday last month - guess you're looking forward to that telegraph from the Queen now!

Go and do it! A day's not going to kill you, Sue!

I know. I'm being a wimp.







I can always get some retail therapy in the afternoon if it is all too stressy.....

How likely are you to return to this career, SueHM?

How much harder would that be if you don't do the course?

How much practice could you get in instead of being lectured at? How much more useful would that be to you here and now?

(I know a bit about ex-careers - I took a year out from accountancy in 2006, and have never gone back.....)

How likely to return - well, its not looking very likely at present. On the other hand, the powers that be may make it more difficult to return if I do not jump through certain hoops within a certain time-frame. If I don't do this course there will be others, but I would end up in the same quandry the night before, no doubt.

I could spend a very happy day practising and preparing lessons for next week.

I'm having an interesting time counselling my eldest kids about A level choices and career moves. I don't think I made a particularly sensible choice of degree/career and I'm torn between demonstrating:

1. Make the best of a bad job, stiff upper lip, get on with it, don't quit, don't let the training go to waste, sense of duty etc

and

2. Life's too short, don't stick with a wrong decision forever just because you don't want to look/feel a failure, get out if it's making you unhappy.

Well not going makes it quite hard to demonstrate 1., whereas going doesn't mean you can't subsequently demonstrate 2. - you're just keeping options open.

Well, then!

Go on, Sue. It's only a day, and it'll help you to keep your options open if you ever do change your mind about returning to your previous career.

Do you keep your options open if you go?

Do you burn your bridges if you don't?

Would you secretly like to burn your bridges?


Good luck, whatever you decide to do

SueHM, we only get one life each. And it's up to each of us to live our own lives and enjoy doing so. To my mind that's option 2 of your post.

OK, I'll never have as "good" a musical career as I did a financial one - if you talk in terms of promotions and earnings and all that stuff - but I'm a darn sight happer and more fulfilled in the latter. I'm being myself, not just another rat in the rat race

Thanks everyone. I think Czerny's last point is pretty persuasive.

Have resolved to go for at least part of the day and see how it goes. Going does not commit me to anything further, but creates opportunity for change of heart at some future date, thus leaving options open.

Thanks for your advice, everyone.

Suppose I had better go find something to wear...

PS Re bridges - matches are at the ready, but will keep them in my bag for now.

Go - and if you run out screaming at coffee time, that will tell you all you need to know. And don't go next year - don't even sign up - save yourself the money.

I'd go, especially given as it's already been paid for.

Don't encourage her! It'll only go to her head!

Katyjay - yup, know what you mean.

In a way, I suppose going to the course gives me a toe in the water. Who knows, maybe I'll meet up with old colleagues (I know at least 3 are going) and have a great time - unlikely, but if I don't go, I'll never know. If I can't hack a day of it, then there is no point even thinking about going back....

Once again, thanks for all your thoughts..

If I can't decide about things like this I weigh up how good the coffee is likely to be... then make the decision accordingly. A good chocolate shortbread and coffee can make anything worthwhile

But before you think I'm being too flippant - I am a total procrastinator but once I make a decision I make the most of it... so the coffee thing is a technique to avoid decisions.. but I've ended up going to some really interesting events even though I might otherwise have bottled out

How did it go Sue?

So - did you ?

Well.....I went. I arrived after it started and sat at the back. To my surprise, I found myself quite gripped - perhaps it helped that they were talking about a particular interest of mine. I didn't break out in a cold sweat or start having palpitations. Found my friend over coffee, had a nice packed lunch in the park and left in time for some shopping on the way home. Couldn't help myself - started asking questions about all sorts - so obviously I'm not over it!!

I think I was incredibly stressed when I finished my last job and that was colouring my feelings about the whole issue. I was pleasantly surprised by my reactions on Sunday, so glad I went in the end. Thanks to everyone who offered support - I really appreciated it (and I don't think I would have gone otherwise). I won't be rushing back to work, but it is definitely a possibility for the future and less of a horror than it was!

Yay!

Well done Sue! Glad you enjoyed it after all.

Good for you! great to surprise yourself sometimes.

Thanks for coming back to let us know how things turned out - and it sounds like they turned out very well! Good for you!