Ask HN: I implemented the life I designed: perfect but I feel lost. What now?

Do you have hobbies? What do you like to do? Seek out opportunities that play to your strengths. Every small organization, community institution, or non-profit entity could use some volunteer help. Most of them aren't taking out google adwords.

Red Cross is worldwide and have lots of different volunteering activities. Also, most cities in the world have centras with volunteers doing different things. You need to find local engagement, and getting to know people, your network start to expand in that area. You can start by calling these and ask how to proceed, what would be suitable, or even just try out a course or something.

This is something that may enrich your life, but I wouldn't rely solely on volunteering and charity. They should be part of life, but your yearning is more personal than that.

This may sound like a flippant comment, but perhaps you're ready to start exploring the great unknown: yourself.

"Know thyself" is one of the tenants of old, and people naturally think they know themselves well. (I used to think the same way too... but it's actually an illusion - a self deceit that we have all built in.)

Start by digging into your own uneasiness. Where does it come from? What triggers it? You'll find some personal thing, most likely from childhood, tucked away in the recesses of your psyche that drives you. Meditation and self honesty are key here.

You can also start by looking at other things, like anger & see how something like a small irritation early in the day can lead to more irritation later on, which can lead to a blow up.

As you dig into your own psyche, you'll hopefully uncover how to love your wife, kids and place in life even more. It will then allow you to dig into yourself more, with increasing levels of gratitude, compassion and love as a result. It's pretty cool.

Pay attention to your nightly dreams also, as they often reflect your day time psyche and can also influence how your upcoming day will be.

Maybe this is what you're looking for?

I can speak to this a little bit. I am in the process of finishing a post-bacc with the goal of applying to medical schools next year after having switched from a career in tech.

My biggest piece of advice would be to not let go of your career too soon. It's tough taking classes and working a full time job simultaneously but I think it's really important to make sure that you can handle that kind of work load and that this is a change you really want to make before giving up your livelihood. It might take you an extra year in your post-bacc but IMO the extra year of financial security and time to figure out the correct path is just worth it... I think what's tough about the PA route is that many programs require applicants to already have thousands of hours of patient contact before applying. This likely means that you will have to find some kind of job in health care prior to applying for a PA program... If I were you, before I set my heart on a PA program I would take a good hard look at nursing programs, NP programs, and MD/DO programs because you can get accepted into those types of schools without having the same kind of professional background a PA school require of you. With that said, if my heart was still set on PA, I would probably try to go for some kind of certificate or associates program first in something like respiratory therapy, pathology/radiology/laboratory tech, or EMT/paramedicine in order to move into the healthcare space with some kind of skill/career prospects before quitting my tech job. Then you can get the hours you need and take any classes the programs your interested in require of you while also confirming that you do indeed want to be a PA. That whole process, from making a plan to finishing your PA program could probably be done in 5 years which, when you consider how long medical school is, doesn't seem too bad. Especially, if you are able to stay in a lucrative profession before beginning PA school.

This is just my two cents. I am by no means an expert but I am at the end of my third and final year of post-bacc classes and I have spent a lot of time thinking about which path out of a tech and into healthcare makes the most sense.