Life's Passion

I attended a seminar for the past two days and was impressed with the instructor because of the passion he has for his life's work.  He has a very successful consulting business because not only does he enjoy what he does and have a passion for it, he is extremely good at it!

I was sitting there and was feeling jealous of him because he enjoyed what he was doing and it was enough to support him and his family.  Every now and then you meet people who truly love what they do and they are SO passionate about it.  It inspires me.  It makes me want to do my life's passion; to Seize the Day and enjoy what I do everyday. 

So of course, the next natural thought is - what IS my passion?  What would I like to do everyday?  And it takes me back to college when I was "undecided" with what degree I wanted to pursue.  And then I am envious of those with the strong passion; those who know what they want to do and they seek it out and work towards it relentlessly.  And they achieve it and they excel!  And don't even get me started on the ones who put us all to shame, who have overcome amazing odds to become a big success. 

Don't get me wrong - it's not that I am not passionate about things.  It doesn't take much to get me going on any number of topics - namely injustices or tragedies or gravely ill children or neglect or abuse or unfairness or favoritism.  My blood boils and my heart burns over injustice;  it enrages me and breaks my heart and makes me want to fix it all and eradicate it from the world (even though I know this is not possible).

On the converse, I am also extremely passionate about beautiful things: a breath-taking sunset, beautiful photographs, elegant sculptures, moving music, touching movies, inspirational quotes. 

Naturally, if I had my choice over what one to live out, it would be to fill my days spreading beauty and hope and joy.  Now of course, as soon as I say this, I immediately feel guilty in that I am selfish in not wanting to help those who need it.  But that is not true.  I care deeply for the injustices and would love to right all the wrongs, but I am the type of person who can't distance myself from tragedy around me.  I absorb it and start sinking under the weight of it, I would drown because I feel so horrible about it and that would help no one if I was consumed by it and burnt up.  It is more that I know my own limitations, so instead of seeking something I know would be a failure for me, I would choose the path for which I could be at my best.  My passion would be to spread and promote the beautiful and inspirational and hopeful; to try and bring joy and hope to all, no matter what they are going through.

I thought about being a motivational consultant (although not really sure how I would get that business off the ground with no 'experince' or money).  At one time, I thought I would go to big businesses and interview the employees as to what motivates them and then try to incorporate that in that business.  I used to work at a business that had several buildings with long white "sterile-looking" hallways.  I always wanted to have beautiful murals painted in those hallways - perhaps of an ocean with dolphins jumping or a beautiful sunset.  Some would say that is ridiculous and out of place - but I couldn't disagree more.  I have attended motivational seminars in which they say art, as well as laughter, increase creativity and productivity.  So I say shame on all those sterile environments that don't add beauty and art to their walls.  Hospitals now do it - they have beautiful artwork and serene environments to promote relaxation and thus healing.  It is a shame the corporate world can't be bothered by beauty and such 'frivolous' things. 

Another dream is to have my motivational shop!  It would be all things motivation - kind of like a Hallmark store (I think Hallmark stores are such happy places with such happy gifts!!).  But my store would have a massage room at the back of the shop (because I feel that massages are the perfect relaxing, soothing experience for stressed out freaks such as myself).  And there would be a sitting area outside the massage room.  This sitting area would have paintings and sculptures from local artists for sale and I would rotate the artists every so often to have variety as well as give more artists the opportunities.  And then I was thinking of having a little tea section and of course chocolates!!  Must have chocolates in my happy store!!

And then reality comes crashing down on me and I realize just because I think it, doesn't mean that I have the means to make it happen.  And thus the entire cycle starts over - what is my passion...but not only what is it...what is within reach!!

Passionately Yours,
Me

Motivational Moment:

Get out of your head and into your life!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

This is one of those quotes that I find very thought provoking.  When looking up the author, there were several that came up - so I will go with St. Francis de Sales (although Mary Engelbreit is known for later making it famous).

How many of us are not happy with what we have or where we are at?  Whether it be what kind of job we have, how much money we have, where we live, we always seem to want more or want different.

Why is it so hard to be happy with where we are/who we are.  Envy and jealousy are such a waste of time; such a shame that they exist, but they exist nonetheless.  It goes right along with 'love the one you're with'.  The problem is that we seem to feel 'the grass is always greener on the other side'.  It always seems like others have it so much better, but they really don't.  It just appears to be so much better because we are not living it.

It's sad that it takes going thru a mid-life crises or reaching a certain age to realize that this is it, so we might as well enjoy it.  Wow!  That statement sounds sad.  Blech!  I want the glamorous life.  I want to live on a beach and walk in the warm sand with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing.  Yum!  I want a fulfilling job that I am passionate about that provides fabulous money while also allowing for an amazing work/life balance.  Want, want, want.  It is soooo easy to want.  The challenge is in the not wanting.  It is learning to enjoy every single day because none of us know how many days we have.  It amazes me how much loss of life we experience around us at the age of 41; and it is the realization that as we age, we will experience the loss of those we know on an exponential level.  So depressing.

This is another one of those times that I would love to do a study and interview all kinds of people, at different stages in their life and ask them if they are happy.  If they are happy, how and why are they happy.  If they are not happy, what do they want (different job, place to live, money, different partner).  I am so curious into how others think and exist.  I know people who, like me, think deeply about life and others who merely exist, without deep thoughts.  I am not saying one is right or wrong, merely that I am aware the difference exists, and that I feel those that think more simply, tend to enjoy life more - but this could be a complete wrong assumption on my part.

Thinking about all this stuff makes me want to seize the day!!  To do what I enjoy; to live life to the fullest.  What a waste not to!  We are here - wherever 'here' is in our lives - who we are with - at what stage of life - doing the typical life stage stuff - but we need to reach out and grab fabulous moments.  We have no idea how long we are here for - it could be taken away in a second.  Or we could get one of the many of horrific diseases that are out there that debilitate us for the rest of our lives.  UGH!  So the challenge is to live life to the fullest.  Grab whatever enjoyment we can.


Thoughtfully Yours,

Me


Motivational Moment:

I figured it would be appropo to end this blog with things that I am thankful for, considering that it is Thanksgiving and all:

First and foremost, I am thankful for my family, who is always with me thru the good and the bad.

I am thankful for my friends, who bring laughter and good times into my life.

I am thankful for massages, which I find to be the ultimate relaxation tool for the stress freak such as myself. 

I am thankful for good movies and good books which provide a wonderful escape from reality.

I am thankful for good health, and a place to live, and being able to provide for my family, and healthy air to breathe and healthy water to drink and food to eat.


I wish you all happiness for who you are and where you are.