Find Your Passion

I watched a TED talk this morning http://www.ted.com/talks/larry_smith_why_you_will_fail_to_have_a_great_career.html

All about finding your passion and making it your career - and the reason we don't and the excuses we give ourselves.

I thought about this on my walk with Abby this morning. At this point in my life I ask the question "Have I lived my passion?" Rather than will I or am I?

Although I think I should give more consideration to the last two.

At any rate, I thought about my life. I could have had a career in banking and in health services - and in rock 'n roll. I know - pretty disparate - but they all came up at one time or another.

Instead I have had three careers: one in film, the second in personal development and the third - writing. Were any or all of these my passion? For the most part, I would say yes - but it's a qualified yes. Certainly I was aware early on that I would have to do something creative with my life. So - film. I believe this was my first and most enduring passion. If I had it to do over again, this is what I would go back to (I think).

And I say, "I think" because when I was a wee little thing, what I wanted to do most was write. But if I carve it even finer to the bone, it's not really making films or writing books or articles - it's telling stories.

I think for me the medium of film has worked best for telling stories - I like beautiful things and there's something magical about taking beautiful pictures and telling stories with them. At least, that is a large part of how I see film. Hugo was recently a prime example of this.

I never took my passion as far as I could have. What came up instead? A lot of things - relationships were a big factor in undermining my single-minded pursuit of career. Lack of confidence - and that goes back to childhood.

On the plus side, I took it to a place where I routinely lost track of time and was totally and utterly absorbed in my work - and that is the point - not the awards or recognition but the abandonment of self.

Writing is something I will have the rest of my life. I am fortunate. Writing may not be quite as magical for me, but it runs an awfully close second. And travelling and hiking and being in beautiful nature and loving my Abby. I am blessed.