Finding Passion

If you are seeking your own passion or seeking other who validate your passions then stop. For just a bit and start hanging around people who have a passion. You may never have the same passion but if you spend time with them you will see living examples of the possibilities. I am blessed to have in my life several people with passions they have followed. From becoming an expert on ancient South American civilizations to knowing almost all the species of arctic moth, to raising organic vegetables and spinning local fibers to recycling electronics, to teaching the next generation these people are diverse in their focus but equal in the joy they get from what they do. And each of these passions has a real complexity to them. They did not just sit down with a pile of books and gather the knowledge of others. They took those books and tried things and went places and talked to people and wrote their own books and took pictures and voiced their opinions. They made discoveries, and shared their information. They became the experts and professionals because of their passion and the energy it gives them to go beyond what other people do.

That is what I seek when I think of finding my passion.
Find those people and walk with them see the world through their passion and know that you passion awaits you too.

passion chooses you

I am not sure if I have a passion, but when I find hours of each day devoted to one thing. When I find I am calling on complete strangers and asking for favors, when I find myself trying to justify my time spent in the name of a "greater good". Maybe I have stumbled onto a passion after all. though I find the garden I have spearheaded is really a manifestation of a different passion than the one every one assumes I have.
I have no passion for gardens. While my parents and grandparents reveled in the soil and the growing of food and flowers I find myself only willing to give a minimal effort to my gardening efforts. My technique falls in the "throw seeds at the ground and then see what happens." catagory. literally. not for me the careful weeding fertilizing, nurturing that eats hours and brings better rewards. Gardening is certainly in my 'strive for meritocracy' motto.
So the real question is why do I put in the time and energy. hours of volunteer labor and even a bit of $$. Its a facade that is the manifestation of my real interest; environmental education.
I also find in this process the opportunity to use my skill as a coordinator and a chance to build stronger community connections.
Maybe I do have a passion it was just lurking behind me and has stolen over me when I was not looking.

Passion and love, Passion and anger

Passion is about intensity. Love, hate, anger, joy. Self permission to have passion means all of these things become more intense in your life. How often we hear stories about those historical and fictional figures of passion; Van Gough, Edison, Don Quixote and shake our heads in bafflement and envy. If only we could all feel so strongly about what we are doing. But then again if you have ever entered a local government meeting about a contentious issue you might have an idea of what the world would be like if we all carried so much passion into the everyday realm. Everything in extremes.
All on or all off.
I lack a big passion that drives me to live my big dream at any cost. But I try to allow as much intensity as I can into my little passions. I cook with love and a desire to feed more than just my belly, I write with honesty and a desire to connect directly, I craft with a desire for perfection.
But still I sometimes wish for a big passion. I will keep searching. I hope you all keep searching as well.

Passions: the myth of discovery

We all have heard the phrase “I was just at the right place at the right time.” Usually uttered by some dewy eyed starlet in telling the story of her “overnight” success.
Riiight, Pull the other one. Sure world class ice skaters are discovered in the park skating with little brother. First time novelists do not have a drawerful of rejected or aborted manuscripts. The best pitchers just happen to be on the mound the day there is a scout in the bleachers.
No one was ever at just the right place at the right time by chance.
There is homework involved in figuring out those two factors.
You don’t go to the hardware store to find a sexy nighty.
Knowing your passion is only the first step. Where and how you get to express it is another. Even the most avid Greenpeace member still pays annual dues.
Put yourself in association with the people you want to be a part of.
Even though hanging out near the popular crowd did not work in high school it can work in real life.
One of the coolest things about the internet is that there are all sorts of ways to hang out near the popular kids.
Joining groups, creating web pages, you tube, face book, my space, blogs, forums can all be tools to get you to the right place at the right time.
But you still need to know where and when.
Do the research.
If you are looking for a job find out; who is hiring? What positions? What industries are growing? What skills do you need? Is there someone who can teach you? Are there people of similar interest in your area so you can meet face to face?
If you are looking for someone to go jogging with or builds model rc aircraft, or has a book club in your area, you can use the same tools.
Are you looking for a personal relationship? The same research standard applies.
Little passions like reading mystery novels, making quilts or developing the perfect pot luck dish are as valid as the big life passions I spoke of earlier. They may not be the things that become the road map and definition of your life, but they are some of the opportunities for interactions that keeps us in the area near the cool kids. That way we can be in the right place at the right time when we figure out our passion.