Passion

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No, not that kind of passion. Get your mind out of the gutter! And grab mine for me while you're down there, will you? Although that kind wouldn't be too bad either...

Anyway, I mean this kind of passion:

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And this kind:

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And especially this:

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I went to see "Julie and Julia" tonight. It was a great movie, very well done. And I loved how authentic the Julia Child parts were. I felt like I was in that time period with them. I also appreciated watching a film that featured two realistic marriages. So often I see movies in which a couple spends two hours trying to meet each other. We never see what happens afterwards. But in "Julie and Julia" we got to spy on two mature, strong and realistic relationships. I enjoyed that. And Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci...wow. Amazing job.

But what I found myself really thinking about as I left the theater was passion. Both the lead characters' stories revolved around finding that something we truly love doing. Not just something to keep us entertained for a little while or the latest hobby. But that which makes us complete...makes us want to fly out of bed in the morning because we can't wait to get to it.

I've always known that my passion is music. I love teaching and working with kids, but my life would not come to an end without them. However, if it ever came to be that I couldn't sing or listen to music I would rather just not live anymore. Music is a part of who I am and I cannot be without it for long. I feel so lucky to have a job that lets me combine what I enjoy with my true passion. And get paid well to do it!

So many times I wonder how people end up doing what they do. It seems many of us just end up somewhere random. We fall into something and stay because it's easier, or we need the money, or we just aren't sure where our passion really lies. I feel so badly for people who have to spend 8 hours a day doing something they don't love, and rarely experience their passion. I realize we can't all be professional sports stars or fashion designers. And I know that we need people in many professions that are going to be far from their dream job. But I so wish we lived in a world where money didn't matter as much as doing what makes us happy. In my utopia, we would all have what we need to get by, and not be constantly wanting more because we would be so happy in our chosen life.

Yes, I am dreaming up my happy place. I just wish everyone was as lucky as me to have found their true calling. Even though it often stresses me out, gives me headaches and just plain pisses me off sometimes, I am still one of the luckiest people I know.

I hope you experience your passion every day, too. No, not that kind! Or, well, maybe that kind, too!