This is a good post. I often wonder if I get to a better point what I could do. Right now it is not an option but was hoping to start to volunteer. Maybe if you try something like that it can open some ideas career wise. For me I know I like to be around people.
Lor good for you. My friend did that too and she has her CNA and really enjoys her job. I think she may of went back for medical assisting too.
I guess some things to look at is will you enjoy the job,your limits like for me it can't be a lot of standing or walking,income,training etc.

Kicker- I know the comment was directed to the Nappy one but I'm confused as to what exactly you are saying. Mad skills? Big kahunas?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To the rest of ya'll- It has taken me much longer than it should have to figure this out, but I have finally come to realize, I'm not cut out for a job that requires working directly with the public, be that in person or over the phone. Unfortunatly I don't seem to be smart enough to come up with ideas that keep my face and voice away from the public. All I can think of is office or internet. There has to be lots of things I'm not thinking of. Now where did I put that asprin???

For the record, nothing is wrong with my face or voice, other than both like to portray me as cold and grumpy when I am anything but. I hate my face and voice when it lies like that, other times, I am pretty content with both.

Mad skills is basically, great skills or many skills. It's a huge positive.

Weave, I just got a magazine from my insurance/bank company and it had a timely article about looking for work for older people...particularly those looking for a second career that is not as demanding.

I know you are not over 50 yet, but http://workforce50.com and http://encore.org might have some info that could help you in your search.

Good luck in finding your niche!

Bobbi is right about mad skills (maybe I've talked to too many teens!!)Big kahunas is from college days, guys can have big kahunas (ballsy, you know)When a mom asked me to speak to another mom about her unsupervised, awful 3 year old I said no way.She said but she thought I had brass t**s (Female version of Big Kahunas). Geez, now I'm blushing (not really, I have brass ***s sometimes).

TKTC- Thanks for the links. I'll give them a look.

kicker- I kinda thought my old fartness was showing there. Just because I have two teenagers under my roof doesn't mean I know the current teen lingo.

I recently have been going through a similar delemia. I need to reinvent myself for some work. I had to review my training and education. Also those are things I enjoy. Make a list of likes, like to do, your talents, work experience, education, what you were good at socially.

For example:

I was in law enforcement a few decades until disabled in a car accident. Fybro, herniations, OA, nerve damage in the neck, arms and traps.

I recently started doing investigative work for an insurance adjuster,,,no W/C.
Property claims, hazardous materials, Comm, veh accidents; etc.But I had no claims in 4 weeks and only a few hours for investigative records to request.

So I decided to get my private investigator license. With that I can still do claim investifations, no W/C, and also I can market my education and talents as a visitation caseworker to monitor visitations. I did that almost three years as an officer of the court.

NOW, I need a name to attract that type of cases. I don;t want to be a 54 year old disabled Magnam PI,
I want something on the order of custody,
safechildren
Visitation soulutions....
But if I use my name XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX investigations and market the services of family visitations.....
Safe solutions....

But, it is about brain storming to think of something, figure out what you need for licensing, fed Id no.s, registering if it is work from home, is that allowable, do you have room,will you need varience,
Certifications
Training,
How about nail work, massage therepist, answering service, code billing,
Just some thoughts.

(((Weave))) I haven't been on too much and must have missed that thread. I also thought you were going to do the medical transcription so I didn't realize you were still struggling with this.

Anyhow, here are some suggestions:

1. I don't know what your states programs are like but if you have a vocational rehabilitation program contact them. They help you hone in on a career based on a few tests they give. They also help with costs for training as well as helping you find other funding. It is a great resource and may be helpful to you. In some states, you need to meet certain criteria in order to qualify for the program. Check that out as well.

EDIT: They also help you come up with careers that will fit within your limitations. That is equally important in making career choices. Example" While I'd love to get back in to nursing, I have tremors and just can't imagine trying to give anyone a shot, or start an IV, etc. This just doesn't fit within my physical limitations.

2. Again, I don't know if this is available to you but our local community college has a career center that offers tests to help you with career choices based on aptitudes, likes and dislikes, and personality. In my state, the vocational rehab program offers the same testing plus others and is free. However, if you don't have that program your local community college would be another great place to start.

3. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics website http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ . They have tons of information on several different career choices as well as the projected outlook for that career, average pay, education/training needed, etc. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great tool.

4. I agree with others. Do a personal inventory of your likes, dislikes, personality, and most importantly your talents. Everyone has something to offer. Finding that can sometimes be challenging but when you do, you will go for it and be much happier.

5. Don't be so hard on yourself. Again, you have so much to offer. It is ok to not want to work with people. The world needs people like that. Those behind the scenes people can really make a difference. As an example, think of all the people who do data entry. Without them entering data we would not have access to the information we may need. Heck, you can do data entry from home.

I hope this helps you in your new career search. Let us know what you come up with.

Weave,
I learnt the most when eavesdropping. For years, a car full of kids who talked but thought I wasn't listening gave me such info,. Now kids drive selves or go with friends, both have passwords keeping me off MySpace or Facebook - I know much less about their lives now.