Every now and then, nostalgia gets the best of me.
It’s the blue days that I have to watch out for: when I’m feeling lonely, unmotivated or burned out. On days like these, I’ll often reflect on highlights from my past to remind me of better times.
Unfortunately, although this strategy is intended to brighten my mood, it sometimes does the opposite.
I’ve found that when I ponder on memories, I usually think about things that I was passionate about. It’s then I’m made aware that many of my past passions have fizzled out, been stifled or died. Part of this can be blamed on a lack of time, but I must take responsibility for the majority of my neglected passions.
Here’s a short list of some of my neglected or dead passions:
-Playing the oboe, clarinet & piano
-Singing
-Hiking
-Swimming
-Songwriting
-Reading (for fun)
I think many of us are guilty of neglecting our passions – I want to suggest that doing so is dangerous and detrimental to our well-being.
We weren’t made to lead lives devoid of passion. It’s important to do things we love. It keeps us motivated, joyful and when it comes down to it, sane.
Without purpose and passion, life is meaningless.
As a journalism major, I am (for the most part) surrounded by people who practice their passion. We aren’t in it for the money, glamor or fame (if we were, we wouldn’t be writers). We are in it because we love it – that alone is enough to get us through, because it gives us purpose.
It’s time to rediscover our passions. For college students, maybe that means picking up an old hobby over spring break. For parents, maybe that means setting aside a little “me time.” For all of us, that making time to say yes to doing what we love.
Questions: What are you passionate about? What do you love to do? What do you want the most in life? When was the last time you exercise that passion?
