Do you have passion in your life? Watching an old episode of Mad Men tonight, Don Draper was asked, “What do you like?” and he couldn’t answer. He is a mixed up man, that Don! It got me thinking about how passionate I can be about such simple things and I kind of love that I am like that.
I would rather have passion and silliness than a life of routines and not knowing who I really am. I mean, that’s what defines us, right? The things that we love, the things that we feel, the ways in which we live our lives…
5 Things I Am Passionate About
- Photography- well duh! I couldn’t not put it on the list, no matter how obvious. It feeds my creative needs, it lets me tell a story, it makes me feel like I am a better person when I do it.
- Stories- As mentioned above, I love stories. Those of you know are new to Mocking Bird, may not know that I am actually a primary school teacher and I spend many hours of every day teaching wee ones how to write stories, how to read them and how to enjoy them. I am most passionate about writing them and I hope that my little band of cherubs who I had to leave behind in Sydney are still as excited about writing every day that they were when I was their teacher.
- Spending real time with my family- I cannot imagine a life without a strong, happy family to laugh with, to play board games with, to spend holidays with and to just enjoy. My family is my life.
- Christmas- I am the one who wants to start decorating December 1st, the one who runs the staff Secret Santa, the one who gets a cranky face at Bah Humbugs, the one who loves twinkly, fairy lights, the one who loves singing Christmas carols, the one who will hold onto her Christmas traditions for life, the one who still expects presents in her childhood Xmas stocking at the age of 33.
- Travel- The dream job is travelling the world taking photographs, writing stories, whilst stopping off in the European Christmas markets to buy gifts for my family. See what I did there? I love nothing more than walking foreign streets and now that my residency visa card just arrived, I am free to travel wherever I want. North America here I come!
What are you passionate about? I would love to know.
Related posts:
I love this post! Yesterday someone asked me what I liked best about my job, and I couldn’t say. I tried very hard to come up with something, but I drew a complete blank. (Probably because I don’t enjoy it that much…)
I am passionate about photography, christmas (I’m this holiday’s #1 fan) and travel as well. I also dearly love singing and music, acting, stories (creating them in my head, watching them in movies or reading them in books) with happy endings, and home and family.
Also, I’m slightly addicted to getting and sending mail, which has led to a passion for unique stationery and packaging materials.
Another thing I am very passionate about is trying new ways to express my creativity. It’s like “traveling in the realm of creativity”. Currently, I’m learning how to throw pottery. :)
I could keep going, but I will stop here. :)
at work: music theory (i’m a piano teacher). i think it’s very interesting to explore how our musical ‘grammar’ works – and how it’s different in other cultuers – this is important to keep in mind because the music of the western world is erasing other musical languages.
on my spare time: argentine tango. it’s the only thing i’ve experienced trigging me to carry on even if it’s a difficult dance -
Chuck, we have a lot of things in common. All the other things you listed could be in my list too.
Yes, my list was a very small version.
Beauty Comma, musical grammar sounds very interesting! I dont know anything about it, but it sounds like what the Western world has done with many aspects of other cultures. :(
Argentine tango sounds wild! I’d love to take dance classes.
It’s so funny how when you hear something in one place all of a sudden you are hearing it everywhere. At a halloween party I was at, someone there was talking about passion and were (drunkenly) going around and asking everyone else what their passion was. Now it feels like everyone’s talking about passion! Which is great since I love to see what other peoples passions are and how they came to that and what they know about it. (One of my passions is learning, anything and everything! About people I know, about the world around me, about myself, about history, science, etc…)
Also, Christmas is a HUGE passion of mine. I love it to bits and with the starbucks Christmas decor being out already, I keep saying “Merry Christmas!” to people who work there when I get a drink. They look at me funny. I just smile. I’m very excited for Christmas this year because it’s the first year my boyfriend will be spending it with me and my family up north. Last year we went to his parents and he showed me all his Christmas traditions and this year I get to show him mine. :)
PS. Granville Island is GORGEOUS at Christmas time, the whole place is full of lights and there are vendors selling roasted chestnuts (like in the carol!) and the smell fills the air and it’s just heavenly.
Hello Amanda. Christmas !!! I’m already plotting some Christmas pictures for your Flickr group … Actually, in my family, we start the Christmas thing on November 26th, just after Saint Catherine day (the 25th …), and with lots af chocolate most of the time ;o)
wel, uhm, photography for sure has been a big obsession during last 3 years. i love books and knitting&crocheting too, but working and being mom of 2 kids does not leave a lot free time so that photography&photo edition consumes it all!
thank you for your nice posts, i enjoy reading your blog! you have such a nice style of writing!
It was fun reading about your passions….actually, they’re similar to mine. “Family”, “photography”, “travel” (when I can save up enough to actually do it!) and I’ll add “kids” and “art”! Holidays are special to me, too. I really get into decorating and making special memories with my family. Knew we had a lot in common, Amanda. ;) Time for that meetup in Seattle! xo
Congratulations! and I really enjoy all of your blogs so much. Gorgeous photographs and wonderful information.
my list is on my blog – I linked back to you… great idea
http://www.anacceptabletime.blogspot.com
flickr is a great source for all things photography
I have been thinking a lot about passion lately, too! I have also been thinking about how to incorporate all of my passions into my life and my work…still working on that, ha! Some of mine include: art, fashion, teaching, blogging, writing, delicious food, friends, and my boyfriend!