A Calling for Passion
“Our world is incomplete until each of us discovers what moves us–our passion. No other person can hear our calling. We must listen and act on it for ourselves. . . “ Richard J. Leider, life planning expert, author, consultant
No matter how we start on the path of life, we each must find what moves our feet and heart from step to step. Sometimes, our passion seems to come with us. Think of child protégées in music, math, science, athletics, art, you name it.
Others, like my sister Amy, struggled to find her passion. Her singing voice was so pure and clear, it singled her out from age five onward. My parents thought her career path was a done deed. They encouraged her singing. And so, she followed that path – and gained some success in it. But she rarely felt the passion she expected. Then suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, she enrolled in nursing school and graduated with an RN, specializing in pediatric nursing. Her love for “her” children shines from her eyes.
Here is a very romantic, true story. Some years ago, my young neighbor Wanda, fell in love. He was a struggling dancer, albeit a very good one. She loved him. Shortly after he took her to meet his parents, Terry proposed. The grandeur of his family estate and their apparent wealth stunned Wanda. She thought she loved a poor boy and her own family’s income was modest. So at first, she said “No, I can’t do that. Sorry.” He didn’t understand — and she cried for weeks. She wanted a simple life but how could she tell him that? Finally, after urging from her female buddies, she did tell him.
She sat him down weeks after their sad breakup and told him she wanted a simpler life. “Well, now, is THAT all?” said Terry. “That’s great, just great,” he added. Why was it great? Well, it seems Terry had just quit dancing and taken a job as – who woulda’ thought – a forest ranger! If they married, she would have to live in a small cabin in the forest where he would be responsible for doing whatever forest rangers do.
She whooped and shouted, “Well, then YES!” They married, she moved from the Big Apple to the forest with her handsome ranger. From the postcards we got, they were living happily after. Their two passions were one. It was a strange but warming story. How different our passions are and sometimes how unexpected!
Meditation for the Day
“Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. ‘Cause that’s all that matters in the end.” Kris Kristofferson, singer, composer, actor, writer
Action for the Day
If I had one year to live, how would I want to live it?
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