Find Your Passion and Purpose-Driven Work
Hello Friends,
I am really excited to introduce the occupational domain and one of my best friends, Ann-Merita “Annie” Golding. I have been blessed in many ways, all for which I am immensely grateful. Having a friend “that sticks closer than a brother” is a gift that I hold dear, and I am especially thankful. Annie shares her experience as an SLP (speech-language pathologist) endeavoring to maintain wellness.
A flingback!
Yan: Tell us a bit about occupational well-being. How important is it to you? How would you define it?
Annie: When I think of occupational well-being, I think of matriculating into a place in your life where you begin to relentlessly pursue your life‘s purpose and come into an awareness of what that is. Now, that is not some thing that you can do overnight - it takes a lot of introspection and an awareness of yourself as well as the space you occupy in the world at any given time. This has become so much more important to me as I’ve gotten older. Truthfully, in my early twenties I didn’t have a ten-year plan… heck, I don’t even think I had a five-year plan. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, let alone what I might want to gain fulfillment from, and I certainly wasn’t thinking about necessarily being purposeful in the world.
“When I think of occupational well-being I think of matriculating into a place in your life where you begin to relentlessly pursue your life‘s purpose.”
Yan: So, how did you decide that speech-language pathology was for you?
Annie: I must credit a college advisor that I had at Howard University named Ms. Carol Dudley, who sat down with me freshman year of 2003 (dating myself here), and without any judgment asked me what I enjoyed doing at that time, what piqued my interest? When I shared with her that I was interested in mass communication and healthcare, she pointed me squarely in the direction of speech and language pathology and suggested that I take a few courses to see how I like it.
Yan: If you weren’t an SLP, what might you have explored? Radio, right?
Annie: Yan, you know I love radio! If I hadn’t become an SLP, I may have pursued something in that arena. I’ve always valued communication as a skill and tool that assists us in every part of our lives, and I’ve come to appreciate the physiological aspects of becoming a great communicator. And, you know your Aunty Lorna had the bakery and I spent quite a bit of time there. I never wanted to open a bakery but I learned so much about service … patience, building relationships, listening between the lines and observing others. I always knew I wanted to work in a service-oriented field. There is something to be said for me in representing, advocating for and serving your people.
Yan: I love that “representing, advocating for and serving your people”. Also, come through Aunty Lorna with the life skills! Did the skills you learned then prepare you for where you are today?
Annie: Absolutely, developing great people skills (interpersonal) and building strong relationships has helped me greatly in the rehabilitation and development of my patients. Working to rebuild speech capacity requires deep levels of personal engagement and trust. Another thing that helps me now, was learning how to articulate myself clearly with all different kinds of people. I did not recognize it as such then, but I was practicing enunciation, voice projection, proper oral articulation, respiration, phonation etc.
Yan: As you talk about your journey to SLP, I can tell my friend that you are most fulfilled. How do you know that this is where you need to be?
Annie: Initially I didn’t want to treat children because subconsciously I felt that children were fragile, and somehow it was a little overwhelming for me. But, to take a child from non-functional to acquiring some communication skills is so rewarding Yan. With stroke patients it can be very intimate. I often have my patients sit with their emotions. And even if they simply cry and/or scream, I stay present while they feel, and assure them that we are in this together. Being able to connect deeply and gain their trust, give them hope and watch them meet and surpass prescribed goals is fulfilling. Journeying with them from one stage to the next makes me smile. I often thank God for using me.
“Journeying with them from one stage to the next makes me smile. I often thank God for using me.”
Yan: Aww Annie, I’m so proud of you.
Annie: Thanks my friend!
Yan: I love how you shared your story, and I am truly happy that you’re experiencing such joy and fulfillment. How would you encourage others to pursue a career that is purpose-driven?
Annie: I believe that we all were designed with a specific purpose(s) in mind. I often ask myself, “what is my legacy” and “what am I supposed to be representing here on earth”? These questions cause me to take a step back and observe life as I have lived it. How can I use my life lessons to enhance and uncover my purposes?
It’s true what they say “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”, but the truth is not everyone is fortunate enough to do what they love, and that’s OK! Sometimes you might have to do what you must in order to do what you love. We can all find some fulfillment in any capacity we find ourselves in. Gratitude and introspection have always been two key ingredients that have helped in my pursuit of purpose. Occupational well-being really is in finding the joy in whatever you do and using that joy to motivate you to get to the next level - whatever that may be for you.
Yan: How do you sustain occupational well-being?
Annie: There are still things within my profession that I want to continually learn, skills I would like to develop to be of better service to my clients. I am so blessed to be doing what I love and I want to ensure that I remain aware and informed. I am also working on being more disciplined. I truly feel that my occupational well-being will only be enhanced through better time management and discipline. I want to build on and improve that. My well-being is important, and boundaries make maintaining some sort of balance possible. I rarely ever take work home, I reserve time for myself, my daughter, and my family and friends.
Ann-Merita Golding M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
What are some skills you have already learned that could help in designing your preferred future?