Motivational Monday Quote

YOU CAN ONLY BECOME TRULY ACCOMPLISHED AT SOMETHING YOU LOVE. DON'T MAKE MONEY YOUR GOAL. INSTEAD PURSUE THE THINGS YOU LOVE DOING, AND DO THEM SO WELL THAT PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE THEIR EYES OFF YOU.

(Maya Angelou)

Plenty of people hate their jobs. Lots of people like their jobs well enough. How many people do you know who love what they do? Who don't look forward to retirement or vacation or the weekend? How many people do you know who have an okay job but who have a passion for something else, for anything else? Whose eyes light up, whose gestures grow animated when they talk about it?   

I used to feel like a freak when I would talk to people about writing (and reading and books.) I would get so excited and happy and want to share my thoughts and hear theirs and ask/answer questions. But then I started noticing the startled looks, the eyes glazing over and the attention drifting, and the stock answer of "that's nice." I felt like a balloon someone stuck a very sharp pencil into.

What was wrong with me? Why wasn't I like the people complaining about their work or getting caught up in mundane matters? That's what you're supposed to do, isn't it? That's what adults do, isn't it? So I toned down my enthusiasm (unless I knew I was in the company of a kindred spirit.) I still spoke about writing and books but I focused more on office politics and on complaining in general. And you know what? Most people seemed much more interested in those things. So, while it was nice to have people actually interested in what I was talking about, I felt like that deflated balloon turned inside out. 

 

But then I realized that maybe it wasn't me after all. Maybe it was them. Maybe they all felt like that balloon, too, but in a different way. What's it like to go through life without something you feel passionate about, without something that gets your juices flowing, without something that brings you joy and challenge and purpose?  I can't imagine.

So today's quote is my wish for all those people who are still searching for their passion. I hope you find it soon. When you do, we'll talk - we'll use big animated gestures and wear big smiles and people won't be able to take their eyes off us.