For some it could be stamp collecting; for others maybe travel. Determining what your "thing" is can be a life changing opportunity. For me it was music. Somehow along the way writing and performing became a passion of mine. How do you know what your passion is? How do you know if you are good enough at something to perhaps turn that passion into a profession?
My personal belief is that it must be something that you truly enjoy "working" at. I can quite literally sit down for the day and noodle around on my guitar. Time can simply pass by and I will have practiced the same scale or progression over and over and over without any direction that this is something I am told to drill on. To actually do that for the day without interruption is difficult with all of the rigours of life around me, but it is something that wouldn't be abnormal for me. I simply love playing and singing.
I'm certain that if one was to interview the greatest in their particular endeavours, that the amount of time that they put into their craft would be mind boggling to someone who didn't have the same level of passion for it. Take for instance a person that juggles. There isn't anything that really draws me to want to practice that skill for more than a few minutes, but to someone out there, that whole day could pass by and they would still be throwing things in the air and catching them in succession. A hockey player who goes outside and stick handles and shoots pucks all day long. The one you need to call in for lunch and for supper because they are seemingly consumed by it. Maybe then they come inside and start shooting pucks in the basement at an old dryer.
It's different than an addiction. An addiction doesn't necessarily give you any real enjoyment; it's more of an immediate hit that may or may not be followed with guilt. Passion for something brings magic. It brings a sense of pride and accomplishment that leads to more wonder, curiosity, and creativity. For most, it doesn't lead to a profession but whatever realm it is in can certainly immerse you into the world of one. Take for example chess. No, you may not become a professional chess player, but you could create a club, run tournaments, maybe write a book about it. You could be quite passionate about baking, which may lead you to helping others with fundraising, starting your own cooking show online, or becoming an influencer on Pinterest. The key to it, in my opinion, is the true joy that is experienced. There doesn't have to be a personal financial profit, but wouldn't it be great if you could do something you actually loved for employment?
I also believe that when it is time, it will show itself. I imagine that if someone told me to sit down and play the same scale on a guitar over and over and over when I was 19 years old I wouldn't have followed through. It has to come from within. Arranged marriages to a craft don't seem to work as well as the organic approach. Not that it doesn't work at all; some athletes have gone on to tell their stories about how much they hated their sport but were forced through by a crazed parent, coach, or government. There are in outliers in everything I suppose.
It also seems to me that passion can eventually shift. I loved hockey. I mean, I loved playing. Though thinking about it...I didn't love practice as much. I wouldn't go out and work one tight turns at the community outdoor rink, or stick handling etc. I just really loved playing. Since music entered my life; my playing days have diminished to an almost non-existent level. I still really enjoy it, and get out with my kids when I am coaching, but I rarely play anymore which becomes readily apparent when I do try to rip a shot these days. I never had a great one to begin with and there is more than a little rust to go through before I could possibly showcase my hands of stone.
I've mentioned before in a previous blog that trying something new is probably the only way that the passion that you didn't even know you had will be discovered. The cool part is that it can happen at anytime. I was 38 when I picked up a guitar to learn to play; two albums later and I have had multitudes of experiences that would never had happened if I hadn't tugged on that loose thread and followed the passion. It's been a phenomenal trail for me and my hope is that everyone can find their own true path to follow.
Now if you'll excuse me....I have a bit of practicing to do with that guitar.