Comments on: Passions on top of passion

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:02:04 +0000

Commenting for the first time under my real name feels strange …

As you know from reading my blogs for the past five years, Jeni, I’ve spent that time looking for my passion. Nearly everyone I encountered thought I was insane as I quit a “perfectly good job,” left an unhappy marriage (greatly reducing the amount of time I spend with my darling son), and moved cities twice. But that search for passion – romantic and professional – drove me. I couldn’t just sit there and complain, like the girl in Dave Matthews’ “Grey Street,” that the world had passed me by and if only I had given the tools I would have succeeded.

I have found the romantic passion, and while defining my professional passion has been more difficult, I have found a sense of balance that leaves me not just content but happy. But to get here I had to truly slough off the expectations and opinions of the world, and leave anyone who didn’t really love and support me behind.

It’s been worth it. I wish this for everyone.

By: Long Story Longer

Long Story Longer — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:55:54 +0000

I appreciate this post so much. I’m trying to blog right now but am finding it hard. Maybe I’ll just post: Go read Jeni’s blog. I hear you times 100. I think Sizzle and Aimee are on to something, but I think it’s really hard. And I envy people who have found their *thing* and can be really passionate about it. I haven’t. Or I have (surfing) but it’s not practical. I’m trying to look at this more as a journey where how we get there is more important than where we end up. I don’t know – it’s something.

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:47:59 +0000

I think you can see, you are not alone. I am very fortunate in that I don’t hate my job but that doesn’t mean it’s what I really wish to be doing with my life. For years now, I’ve been perusing the community college class listing, trying to narrow it all down to the one thing I’d love. The thing is, I won’t know until I do it!

I definitely agree with Aimee. Finding something you enjoy doing will make your job easier to handle. What exactly about the children’s theatre did you like? Maybe there is something similar you can do? Not as your day job, but maybe on the side, weekends or nights? How about some sort of volunteering? Maybe that could give you the inkling you need.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:31:32 +0000

I agree with Sizzle, you have to work at it. But I think the fact that you are even putting it out there to the Universe is good. Sometimes things happen in a positive way when we are honest with ourselves.

Passion doesn’t have to equal work either. Finding something you enjoy doing might even make work easier? I remember my soul sucking job took the life out of me and made it difficult to even have energy to try and find something I enjoyed doing. Fight that the Dementors don’t take you too for down the hole.

By: Chickie

Chickie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:34:04 +0000

I’m in the same spot and have been for awhile. A coworker stopped by my desk one day to gossip and he asked me what I really thought of the place. Told him I felt like I’d wasted my life and he said that’s how he feels too. Sweety asks me what do I really LIKE any more and I can’t give him an answer.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:24:45 +0000

This post is not only spot-on, but man, your timing is incredible. Every night I walk past my “office”, a room filled with project on top of projects that I’ve been waiting for years to have the space and time to work on. Now i have the space, but not the time. I get up at 6:30 (not early by any means), get myself ready, Griffin ready, off to daycare, off to work, pick up Griffin, get home, dinner, bath, Griffin’s bedtime, and by 8 I am EXHAUSTED and all I feel like doing is reading a book or watching t.v. So, all of my projects, and a part of my heart, sit in that great space waiting for me to find that time to do them.

I’m looking for the same answers, Jen. I think most people if they are truly honest with themselves are.

By: timo

timo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:35:08 +0000

thank you. this sums up to a fucking T how I have been feeling the last few months. I was just labelling it a vague “hopeless nowhere-ness” but you laid it all out on the lou.

By: sizzle

sizzle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:20:11 +0000

I don’t think you lose your soul. Passion can come and go. Maybe if you made a free form brainstorm list of things you want to try that sound interesting you could start from there. Take a class here or an adventure there and you’ll likely find something that sparks your interest. I know that for me passion is not something that falls into my lap; it is something I pursue and explore.

Keep at it!