In most ways, I’d say that I have my dream job. I mean… I make and take pictures of doughnuts and cookies for a living. I had no idea that was even a possibility for me when I was in college writing essays about the Harlem Renaissance. No idea. I feel lucky to combine my love of dough and words here on this blog. If you want me to talk about the Harlem Renaissance we can, though my essay writing abilities aren’t as polished. A topic sentence?… please don’t make me do it.
I’m living in my dream job. Some days it feels like more job than dream… but that’s just the nature of having tasks to do. Because I’m greedy and have a healthy day-dreaming imagination, I entertain several daydream dream jobs in my mind. You should see what a good drummer I am in my mind’s eye. I’m amazing, but you’ll have to take my word for it.
A Daydream Dream Job is a job that you often picture yourself doing, free of the boundaries of age, lifestyle, and actual skill or ability. It’s out there, and so what!?
Other than the current dream job, where I photograph doughnuts on my living room floor, here are a few of my most daydreamed dream jobs. They range from ridiculous, to just… head-shaking no:
• Dream Job 1: Backup dancer for a Beyonce. In my mind backup dancers strike a lot of poses, wear bright red lipstick, and have flamboyant but supportive dance moves. Essentially, I’d like to dance next to the spotlight and be Beyonce’s cheerleader. Unfortunately I don’t have long hair to whip around, my body doesn’t twerk, and I incorporate way too much thumb into my dance moves.
• Dream Job 2: Anonymous advice column author. My advice would be a cross between my mom, the cashier at the grocery with purple hair and the most epic acrylic nails, and this guy. Essentially my advice would be a string of ‘giirrrlll, don’t play’ statements and affirmations.
• Dream Job 3: A drummer. My dream job is to be the drummer for the Foo Fighters. I know, the Foo Fighters already have an excellent drummer. That’s no problem, I want to BE Taylor Hawkins. Specifically, I want to be Taylor Hawkins playing The Pretender. I basically AM Taylor Hawkins when I’m driving alone in my car blasting that song. Again, you’ll have to take my word for it. (I’m shaking my head no… I’m awful).
• Dream Job 4: An ER Doctor alongside Anthony Edwards, Noah Wiley, and youthful George Clooney. I want to be an ER doctor among the original cast of the 90’s television drama ER. Don’t worry, this is a totally realistic dream job. You’re right, pipe dream. How about I just be Juliana Margulies before she goes to med school? Good dream job compromise? I thought so. (I confident that only two of you reading this have any idea what I’m talking about. I can’t help the specificity of my daydreams.)
Tell me tell me! What’s your daydream dream job? Does it involve Beyonce? Probably a little bit.
joanne
My dream job would be to own a small cafe that catered to breakfast lunch and dessert with a changing menu, Or have an American cafe for tourist in Italy. Another dream would be to be an actress or a dancer. Ah to dream…..
Melissa A.
I’ve been watching some early Grey’s Anatomy but all it is really doing for me is making me wish I could binge watch ER. That show!
My daydream dream job has always been to be a ballerina. I imagine it would feel magical to be that graceful.
allison bridgman
I feel like I have a new daydream dream job every day. Flight attendant (without rude passengers, of course), peds doctor, travel writer, and would love love love to the community relations manager for the toronto blue jays (hometown) or any major league sports team.
kristina
Working on lighting in Pixar movies. Or really, if we’re going back in time, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Just being a writer but without having to do anything related to press.
Doing a podcast, kind of just being a modern Dorothy Parker.
I just want to talk to interesting people all day, or work in the dark on arty stuff.
Merrilee
I’d like to hang out with David Chang, Ed Lee, and other “mind of a chef” celebrities. I would discover the best wines (or bourbon, or other drinks) to go with their food, travel to interesting remote locations (see “Fire” episode with Ed Lee in Bolivia or Argentina or some such awesomeness) and experience foods I’ve never seen before. Naturally I would do this in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way, and support the local economies. Does this sound like a job? Well not really- but it’s MY daydream! I suppose I could record my experiences in a funny yet educational and inspiring book or two. Why not!?!
joythebaker
sounds like some solid daydreaming.
Eliza
I would love to read a food-infused blog post about the Harlem Renaissance!
Any chance of a revival of the Joy the Baker podcast anytime in the near future? I miss looking forward to new episodes from you and your maj.
Michelle
Missing the podcast as well, hope to get an update soon Joy! (And in my dreams I’m an astronaut ????)
joythebaker
I’ll work on the Harlem Renaissance for you. I don’t know if Tracy and I will pick up the podcast again. Time and life got away from us.
LCB
Yoga instructor. That would be so awesome, you could make people feel better, pick amazing playlists, be in great shape… I may still ditch my ‘career’ and go for it. I could trade high heels for flip flops every day, yep.
Chris Downie
1. Coach my own Internationally created Women’s Ice Hockey Team in my own League in the United States 2. Coach an NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Team 3. Coach an NHL Ice Hockey Team 4. Be a War/Battle Analyst with the International Institute for Stategic Studies and talk about it on tv(something i considered going to uni for when i was studying my A-Levels but alas didnt get the grades for Kings College, London). 5. Be a paid Social Commentator ….they are probably my dream jobs in order of preference. Women’s Ice Hockey to me is a great sport and i honestly thought needed a boost in recognition. I created a league which would have done more(created better world understanding, brought ‘hockey’ more to the Agricultural areas of the US, Helped in the better self-confidence of kids, Helped show Alaska isnt just a resource cashcow which is noticed for the environment, risen the prominance of Women’s Team Sport such that it would have been a Woman’s sport which ran alongside Men’s sport not amongst it..ie stood alone in its own right which i felt womens sport and a league of 30 would have accomplished and id have ensured it didnt interfere with present US sports and Leagues as much as possible. Money wasnt the key figure. Would have brought teams to locations(towns owning the rinks once they paid off) as opposed to mobile teams which seems to go on(no money they up and leave and go somewhere else). As you can tell its something i felt strongly about. And well the sport, something i really enjoy watching-who wanted want their dream job to be connected with their hobby. Talking money apart from the current very top leagues, most Women’s Ice Hockey players, even those which play for their countries, play for enjoyment and the competition, and receive NO pay or salary-i thought they deserved better recognition. Thanks. Cant dance, cant sing-so backup anything to Beyonce out of the question to me though i do like the song and music video ‘If i was a boy’ :)
joythebaker
this is pretty incredible.
chris downie
Thankyou I think. (I did go on a bit(sorry)).sorry also for the ‘wanted’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’ typo
chris downie
oops and I meant coach my own international team..i would have players from various ice hockey playing countries on my team(my league) -US, Canada, GB, Japan, China for example and rest of the league would have teams from countries around the world, majority of players on each other team from that country and the rest of the team from Canada or the US on each team in order that there is local interest. The US and Canadian Teams would be them solely, not just 2 teams from the home countries .. would be a good home country vs world teams competition vying for top spot. really good lol ..but alas ..lol thanks anyway
Alicen
I apparently need to do more daydreaming about dream jobs… I can’t think of a single thing, and that’s not because I’m totally satisfied with what I’m doing now.
Theresa M.
I’m going to show my age here so be very afraid. My daydream dream job would be an 80’s slut rocker chick, like Pat Benetar, Stevie Nicks, Heart (both Ann and Nancy Wilson). Aside from the fact I can’t sing, am terrified to be in front of people, and certainly can’t pull off the outfits they did, but yeah, that would be fun.
joythebaker
that’s the spirit!
Tom ~ Raise Your Garden
Honestly ~ I’m doing my dream job as a gym teacher in NYS!!! I mean, it’s all play and no work, hehe. Dodge ball, badmitten, table tennis, can jam, ladder ball, fun and more fun. And when you get mad at a student, just pound the dodge ball at them (just kidding guy!!) or not.
Jennifer Martin
I want to be a baker or pastry chef. Or an event planner. Or a life coach. Basically I want to cheer people on and be part of celebrations.
erinabler
I would be a blogger like you but for my apple farm. Currently I work weekends at an apple farm/winery so I’m 1/3 of the way there. Next up is starting the blog and then just waiting for the original owners to retire so I can buy the orchard.
Rachel
Olivia Pope.
As I now work in politics, I may or may not be joking.
carrieloveskeith
I want to be Olivia Pope, but really I’m just in it for the clothes… and so I can say, “It’s been handled!” while storming off and looking fabulous :)
joythebaker
I too want to be Olivia Pope for her outerwear alone.
laura
When I was in middle school, we had a snow day and I was able to stay home and watch Regis and Kathie Lee. On this particular episode, I fell hard for a break dancer that was breaking the world record for number of spins on his head. That is my dream job. Slash backup dancer for Beyonce. Obvs.