For some reason, everyone I’ve talked to in the last few days have mentioned the word passion to me in talking about things – their work – their play – their life.
Sometimes, I think we get so involved in surviving the day to day life that we forget about the things we are passionate about. I used to be passionate about writing, but sometimes getting started on this column feels like drudgery – until I begin typing (or writing). As the words flow from my head and onto the page, I feel a calm come upon me and warm feelings wash over me.
Yes, even during those times I am experiencing that devastating block of ideas that simply won’t go from head to computer, I still feel passion about words and sentences and paragraphs. As much as I take the writing and writing process to the center of my heart, I know that I could stand to be a bit more passionate if I am to be successful at it.
Earlier this week, I was at the salon with a new hair stylist – and she was discussing the forcing at her salon to choose either cutting or coloring as a specialty – and how she was all for the separation. That she had a passion for color – the ability to be creative – to make changes – to see the fruits of her labor – to experiment and see how things come out in a controlled fashion. Then she said something that is just sticking with me “When you have a passion for something, you should follow it.
Not everyone can pay their bills doing the thing they are passionate about. You can only hope that part of your time, though, is spent doing what you love.
On a flight recently, I became involved in a conversation with the gent to my left and the gent behind me about planes – old planes – those vintage planes from the 40’s that flew in World War II – and it got me thinking about an old friend. He had flown vintage planes in air shows and movies – and one time told me that flying those old planes was the best thing he’d ever done with his clothes on. And it got me to wondering – did he still have that passion? Or had the day-to-day responsibilities overshadowed that and the passion he had fall to the wayside?
I think about things like that on nights when I can’t sleep – or mornings when I’m sitting at 35,000 feet and reading a good book (or watching a show on my IPOD) instead of writing.
Do you lose a passion for something and it fall away from you? Or is it always there – like coals –just waiting to that spark to re-ignite it?
Personally, I think that while you may lose interest for a time, the passion you have is still there – deep inside your heart. I feel it inside of myself, at least. Even when I’m not actively writing. Even when I haven’t put words to paper in weeks, I still have this constant recitation of thoughts and ideas going into my head that I know need to get out of my head and into the circuits of my computer.
So, what about you? What is your passion? Is it something you are living and breathing – like my hairstylist? Or, are you like me, letting that passion sit like a coal? And if so, what is keeping you from igniting it?
It’s almost Spring.
Spring is about the rebirth of nature – where things are fresh and new again. Take the season to heart and DO something about allowing your passions to be reborn in your heart. And if you do, let me know about it. We’re always open to hearing from guest columnists ….
I’d love to hear about your journey into embracing your passion – and letting that pleasure engulf your being. Drop me a line! (deb@allthingsgirl.com)