Every 3000 miles.
That’s what the experts recommend when it comes to getting the oil checked and changed in our cars. The theory? Better ride. Better gas mileage. Longer life to the car.
But what about your passion for life…When was the last time you had that checked?
I have noticed that people are pretty good about keeping their cars in working order, but fall short in the passion department, settling instead for an average to below-average overall life experience.
One of my all-time favorite “Far Side” cartoons by Gary Larsen is the one where a goldfish is writing in its journal about what it did that day. Day after day, the same words appear in the entries: “Swam around bowl. Ate. Slept. Swam around bowl. Ate. Slept.”
It’s a variation of the hamster wheel theme, and the point is clearly made. Is this the kind of life worth living? Are you stuck in a fishbowl or on a metal wheel?
Because we live in a culture that rewards us for putting our heads down and plowing forward to Achieve Big Things regardless of whether we like doing it or not, is it any wonder the zest for life runs several quarts low for millions every year? Caught in the endless cycle of earn-consume-go-into-debt, Americans en masse have, for several generations, lost sight of what makes us happy and truly gives us joy each day. Usually, these things are fairly simple and don’t require a ton of money.
Take Eli’s story, for example. Eli has loved music and playing the saxophone since he first got turned on to it when he was a teenager. Yet music wasn’t an “acceptable” path for Eli to follow in order to make money and provide an affluent life for his family, so he veered away from it and went into Sales. For years, Eli slaved away at his sales job, making great amounts of money but feeling absolutely miserable year after year. Eventually, he and his wife got divorced, which only compounded his unhappiness.
Today, Eli isn’t yet fully engaged again with his passion for music, but he is working his way towards it, knowing full well it is where his heart is and wants to be. He has a long-term plan that will eventually get him back to his roots of playing the sax and being around music day in and day out.
Think for a moment how many Elis are out there, struggling with a deep-seeded conflict within themselves about what they are doing vs. what they would like to be doing. Maybe you see a bit of Eli in yourself? One thing’s for sure: it takes courage to admit you want to live your passion if you aren’t already doing so, and it takes a plan to execute any sort of change as these shifts often don’t work so well when done impulsively or without thought.
However, just like maintaining excellent oil levels in your car, you owe it to yourself to keep a finger on the pulse of your passion and keep it humming at a healthy pace. Life is way too short to miss out on all the wonders available to us when we stand up and own the passion that burns inside.
I encourage you to take some time in the next day or two to really reflect on what your passions are and see how you could integrate one or more of them into your daily life moving forward. Even a tiny shift can have monumental results! You can post your experiences here…I would love to hear them!
I love this! We do get so caught up in living that we forget doing something we are passionate about makes everything worthwhile.
Great info Mary Lou,
Val
I am so grateful because for the greater part of my life I have been able to live my passion. I have rarely gotten stuck in the survival only duldrum, probably because I have so little tolerance for it. I am also thankful that I’m part of a generation that is able to seek out and pursue passions in a way that my parents and grandparents did not have the luxury and comfort to do. So, I agree Mary Lou, live your passion… always. And be grateful that you are able to… always.
Mary Lou, as always your point is right to the heart. My observation is that the majority of us are brainwashed to live doing what we can’t stand for money and waiting to retire to start doing what we desire. It sounds absurd, still is the reality for many. Turning our passions into profits is a far away concept for most. Your article shakes this paradigm and awakens to the truth. Thank you for reminding us to stop being so busy making sure the oils in our cars are changed on time while ignoring the fact that our passions are locked in closets.
Gratefully,
Venus 🙂
Mary Lou you are so right on thank you so much for writing this, more and more I am doing what I love and passionate about.
It is not always ease though to do and be your passions and to make a living at it. But the cool thing is as long as your passionate about it and you do it daily we are on the right track.
I see so many people not doing what they are passionate about for a living and it just makes me drive myself that much more.
Blessings to you for doing and being your passion
thanks
Jeremy
Oh this is so true Mary Lou! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve watched my oldest son, who is an artist and nearing his 30’s, steer away from his dreams rather than move toward them. Like many of us, he was told that he’ll “never make a living” off of art and he’ll starve like the rest. Recently he has opened a door for himself in getting his tattooing license so he can incorporate art into his work. I’m not a fan of tattoo’s but I am a fan of anyone living out their purpose and his talent is far too great to be lost on not sharing the joy it brings to him and to others.
Thanks for sharing and I do hope people will heed what you’re saying and think about it.
Thanks for a great article! If we want to be happy we need to do what we are passionate about! That’s why I left a good job in corporate America because it wasn’t my passion! Thanks again!
Thanks Mary, you are by far one of my favorites. Do you know the the richest lands in the world are cemetery’s. They are full of people who coulda, woulda, shoulda, but didn’t. Great Post.
Hi Mary Lou
What a fabulous post!(analogies are a wonderful way of demonstrating a point, aren’t they?). 🙂
You’re spot on with your message and I love the “Far Side” cartoons too.
Life is too short to spend it being miserable. We all have to do things that are mundane and boring at times (that’s life), but to live your life feeling disenchanted day in, day out would certainly be a less than desirable existence.
There are times when I feel somewhat stuck in a rut, feeling like I’m in my own “Groundhog’s Day” movie, but fortunately those times don’t last very long. I’m sure everyone can relate to that on some level!
More often than not, when I’m feeling like that it’s because I’m too tired and/or I haven’t been taking enough time specifically for myself to do the things I enjoy and that uplift me (life with young children will do that to you at times ;)). I hate getting into bed at night thinking, “Well, that’s another day gone and I’ve done nothing today that’s been enjoyable for me …” That’s not a good way to feel at all!
My cure for that is to take a break and:
* play my piano;
* put on some music and have a little dance (either with the kids or without);
* read;
* write;
* think about something that makes me laugh and “relive” the moment (I do that a lot actually!);
* do some gardening;
* go for a walk;
* or spend some time working on one of my many hobbies. I absolutely adore counted cross stitch, but I don’t spend enough time doing it of late.
For many years, I had great aspirations of getting into the “Guinness World Records” book for completing the most counted cross stitch projects by one person … a girl can dream, can’t she?! lol
I always feel great after any of these activities.
I truly feel for the Elis of this world who have been discouraged from following their passions and I hope that the day will come for them when they are able to “make the break” from the life they are living and start living a life that makes them feel wonderful.
As you’ve said in the last paragraph, even a tiny shift can have monumental results … you’re spot on again!
I’m very fortunate to have worked in a job that I adored for nearly 17 years (lots of typing! I LOVE to type!), and now have three children who I love more than anything in the world (even cross stitch – hehe). I always wanted to be a wife and mother and that’s what I now am (the kids are 11, 8 and 5).
I work from home doing what I love (writing, editing and proofreading; typing; helping others by teaching about blogging, social media, marketing etc – I genuinely love to help people, always have; learning new things and meeting new people …). I even love ironing (true!) and iron for other people as well as doing my own.
Because I work from home, I’m always here for the kids and I enjoy helping out in their classrooms at school each week for a few hours, plus taking them to their swimming and dancing classes (I also learn tap dancing and I’m having a blast with that!). Passion is my middle name. 🙂
Mary Lou, thank you for the opportunity to share that with you.
Aside from what you’ve talked about in your “About Mary Lou” page (you’re obviously an awesome teacher!), is there anything else that you’re passionate about? I’d love to know. 🙂
~ Kylie ~
Hi Kylie,
It sure sounds like you have many passions that keep you busy and happy. I am impressed with your goal of getting into the Guiness Book of World Records for cross stitch! Don’t let go of that dream. 🙂 You never know what can happen when you set your mind to something!
It’s funny that you love ironing because I do too — and when I tell people that I love ironing, they think I’m crazy! But for me, ironing is meditative…it also takes me back to my childhood when I helped my Mom iron things. I love the satisfaction I get from taking something wrinkled and disheveled and making it smooth.
Doing what you love and getting paid for that work is impossible to beat. You are one of the fortunate ones who have been able to blend your passions with your livelihood. I imagine as your children get older, and you have more time for things you love, you will find a way to integrate them into what you already do now.
Thank you, Kylie, for writing one of the most detailed and personal comments I have ever received. It says a lot about the depth and quality of your character!
~Mary Lou