I’ve been where you’re at before and was there for years too as well. What you want to do is find a career/path/direction that you enjoy and uses skills that you’re good at. Ask yourself what your top qualities are. And yes, there is something that you’re good at. Everybody’s good at something. The trick is in trying to use that to help you in a career. Then, ask yourself what you enjoy doing. If you can’t figure out what you want, then ask yourself what you don’t want. Use your past life and work experiences to help you answer that question. What do you care about? Are there any issues in life that you’re passionate about? For instance, the environment, the foster care system, the deaf community, cars (mechanics, design, etc.), teaching, genetics, shoes, whatever you find interesting. Write it/them down. Also, have you ever heard of a career or watched someone perform their job and it made you envious? Figure out what it was about it that made you feel that way (besides money)? That might help you figure out what about it appealed to you. From now on, promise yourself that you’ll keep your eyes open to what does and doesn’t appeal to you in life, and add those things to your lists. Write things down. It really does help in figuring things out and making things clearer. Once you have an idea of some careers that you’re interested in, go here:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

Type in the career in the search box in the top-right hand corner and it’ll give you great information on it, including work environment, training, qualifications and salary.

Don’t let your age stop you. You are NOT too old to go back to school. And it is ALWAYS worth it to follow your path. You don’t mention what makes you think it’s not worth it. Is it something you’ll have to sacrifice – time, money, etc.? Do you have children? Are you worried about financially hurting them if you go back to school? Do you think you qualify for financial aid, or perhaps you can work full-time and go to school part-time? My point is this – if there’s a will, there’s usually a way.

And don’t worry about it not working out. Why are you already assuming your failure in something you haven’t even started yet? That’s really self-destructive. I’ve done that too and it gets you nowhere. Get rid of that and remind yourself that you deserve good things to happen for you too. Whatever happened in the past is in the past, so learn from it and leave it there. Then, get your priorities straight, work hard, stay focused and stay organized. Also, remember – positive outlook equals positive outcome. Once you decide what you want to do, it is doable as long as you remain consistent and work your butt off. But you have to make the decision for change to occur.

Don’t pick a career for money or out of desperation. I know that the older you get the easier it is to pick something out of desperation, and then the doubts that you’re talking about will repeat themselves. However, it is also true that the older you get the more aware you are of what you really want out of life. If you have to work at it to figure it out, then do so. And if you pick a route that turns out wrong for you, and you’re sure that you’re leaving it only for the right reasons and not the wrong ones (fear, self-doubt, etc.), then, without embarrassment, turn around and pick another route.

Try reading one of these books:

I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It

Barbra Sher’s website (above author):

http://www.barbarasher.com/icoulddo.htm

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type:

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers:

Your Dream Career For Dummies:

Some links:

Three steps to choosing a career:

http://content.monster.com/articles/3460/17281/1/home.aspx

How to find your purpose:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+find+your+purpose

How to find your calling:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+find+your+calling

What is my calling?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+my+calling%3F

Good luck and don’t give up on yourself.

*edited to add more links

I am also 35, and feel the same way. I got married at 18, worked and raised my 4 children. Now that I have some free time in my hands, I plan on going back to school. I’d like to get into a career, that would not only give me a great income to help my children through college, but would also give me great inner satisfaction in helping others. At this point in my life, I feel that if I could accomplish all my goals, by the time I’m 40…Then I will absolutely achieve happpiness…It’s never too late for anything, you just really have to believe in yourself and work hard. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. Good luck.

You aren’t too old to study, nor are you too old to begin learning how to make decisions and take affirmative action. If you feel you need direction, take an aptitude test. That won’t tell you what to do, but it will indicate things for which you have a natural aptitude and might open a few avenues you have not previously considered.

The bottom line is, you need a goal. We all do – and until you have a direction to follow you are going to waft around and waste your life. And you only have one life to live, so you might as well get the most out of it.

I am 54 years old and a grandma and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. The most important thing is that you do something – work, grow, learn. We are never too old to study and learn and try something new. Choices are what life is all about, and if you make one that you are not completely happy with, so what? Try again. All that matters is that you are alive and interested and trying. Good luck.

Go to school

It’s never too late to start. Get going.