I highly recommend taking a free Myers-Briggs test (Jung's work) to determine your personality type. There are 16 basic personality types. My wifes got a phd in psych. and finally wrestled me into taking one the other day. I've never been one to put a whole lot of weight in psych., but I'll tell you, it amazed me with the detail and accuracy of a description it was able to give of my personality, as well as my wife's. One thing I find to be absolutely true is Introverts have their batteries worn down by by social situations, especially when around people they don't know; and Extroverts have their batteries recharged by other people. My mother is definitly the latter. She can't stand non social situations. She has to be talking on the phone or visiting with someone or around other people to be happy. Try to get her to sit down and read a book for an hour, it ain't gonna happen. I on the other hand am weighted to the other side. I can enjoy the company of others, but I can also enjoy many hours of fly fishing alone at a remote mountain lake, computer time, reading, etc.. I did some time in the corporate world and thats exactly what it seemed like for me.........doing time. But for you, maybe thats what your personality type demands. Do what fits.
interesting activities: Join a local gym Big brother/big sister/boy/girl scout leader camera club, sierra club, hiking/biking clubs - check out your local "what's happening in all the local magazines/newspapers. Join networking organizations Find out if there are any trading groups in your area (this site has a section on that) start or develop a few hobbies - chess, collect stamps or one of the other 500 things people collect - there are always regional meetups for people with these interests. Antique car owners are one example. Mentor someone in trading etc. etc. As someone said, the grass is greener. Many smart financial industry types find out the hard or annoying way that they know much more than their boss, and are trapped beneath their mediocrity. Your good ideas fall on deaf ears, and only the deadline seems to matter to them. I remember too many times, when they had to have multiple meetings and assign 9-week long projects to come to a logical decision/conclusion that everyone knew was inevitable in the first place. Many office types would rather be at home.
How is it working at a children's hospital? I've thought of helping children. I volunteered at the local Veteran's hospital but that was a bit too heavy at the time. I walked into a room and missed some serious warnings on the door about the diseases of the person in the room. The environment seemed more suited to professionals, but I was able to lend a hand. What do they ask you to do for the kids?
it always helps to be involved in social causes,,, tutor students,, teach at a college or other learning facility, bag groceries,, clean bathrooms,,, on another thought, scratch that last trade....
I hired 2 coaches. Meet with them separately, once a week. One is a self improvement coach. My current assignment is reading a Oprah Book club book called the New Earth. Each week, we discuss the book and go through various exercises. The 2nd coach is definitely more extroverted. He has me taking yoga, doing a plethora of networking activity and travelling. We have targets and they hold me accountable for my own development.
I do believe that people that gravitate towards trading independently, especially the ones who stick with it, are introverted people anyway. I am very introverted, I have to make an extra effort to call my friends and socialize. This solitary profession obviously has its drawbacks, but like anything else if you have the right frame of mind there wouldn't be anything to be worried about at all.
I play pipes, ya know, Scottish Highland Bagpipes. I volunteer my musical talent to the local PD and FD, but I've thought about volunteering with the local USMC honor guard based at their recruiting office. Play funerals for free for the local Marines who gave all. "The Marine Corps Hymn" on pipes is spooky good, if you can imagine.
I long to abandon corporate culture, awkward and meaningless social relationships, corporate dick suckers, and get into intense isolation. Our world frames everything in terms of skills. Social skills are developed at a young age. I really don't think people further develop their social skills into their 30s.