My mother says she plans to never retire because she loves what she does. I wish I could say the same about my career.

• Ever since I was a kid, my mom loved her career in heating; she swore she'd never retire.
• Now that I'm in my late 20s, I wish I had a job I could see myself doing for decades.
• I'm still waiting for that job, but for now, I'm grateful my mom instilled a great work ethic in me.

My mother has always loved her work. As a business owner of several companies in our hometown, she knows just about everyone — from neighbors to local officials to fellow entrepreneurs.

Since she has worked in construction and HVAC for decades, my sister and I would often go to job sites with her as kids. I was always in awe of my mom in action. She was clearly incredibly confident in her work and her ability to lead.

That's why it's never been a surprise whenever she reminds us she has no plans to retire. I wish I could say the same about myself.

My mother has long loved what she does for a living

My mom went to college only because her father required her to. The moment she graduated, she became a real estate agent at 19 and started building her business. When she noticed her clients needed tanks and oil for their new homes, she started her own companies in her 30s to help them.

I've got to see her passion for the industry firsthand, as I've worked for her since I was a kid. I'm now a full-time employee at her company, and her love for the work has never wavered.

I've got to see what it means to love what you do, and it has shaped my work ethic from a young age. While it didn't make much sense as a child, now as an adult, I can see the importance of finding one's work fulfilling.

The feeling isn't completely mutual — yet

I can't say I share my mother's mindset around retirement in its entirety. Although I'm only 27, I've yet to find a career I want to work in for decades.

I'm lucky to be able to work alongside my family at those businesses my mother vowed to run forever, but I know it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I don't know yet what would make me happy in a lifelong career. While it isn't a great feeling, I know that sometimes being a little lost can lead people to where they were always meant to go.

I understand that a lot of luck is involved in achieving both financial stability and a career you love. Most of us, instead, work to sustain some semblance of financial stability, oftentimes letting what we truly enjoy fall to the wayside in the name of keeping bills paid.

Until I find that lucky combination of a stable career that I'm passionate about, I'm still glad my mom instilled in me a work ethic that values hard work and passion. My mom is excited to work every day, no matter what challenges may arise, and that to me is more a sign of success than any financial gain.