Are you lucky enough to do what you love? Many, one could even argue most, are not. Or are not aware they are not.
Much of our life programmes us culturally to do what is expected. That expectation does depend on the country you live in. For example, if I was in the USA the expectation might be go to college, get a well paid job, buy a house, get married, have kids… And for many, maybe even most, this makes them happy.
But what if it doesn’t? What if there is this nagging sense of, something? Something not yet done, something not yet completed?
This could actually be a little thing, like a dissatisfaction with the amount of things in your home. A desire to downsize or simply redecorate. Or it could be major. I will give you a personal example.
I have been very lucky in my life to follow my dream, not once, but many times. This was possible by taking the time to sit down and consider, sometimes over long periods of time, what I would like out of life.
My choice to move to the UK, essentially straight out of university, was the first major one. I then turned around and spent 11 years travelling the world by bicycle. And then, for the first time in my life, nearing middle age, I got a real job. The job morphed into work I really enjoyed.
My work was all based on what I thought, my opinion, understanding and recommendations. Not a bad way to work. However, with time, came the realisation, I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted, I came to realise, something more tangible, more concrete.It dawned on me that I wanted to make and/or sell something.
Time and a bit more travel was undertaken to aid Mr P in gaining wine making experience, before settling in France. We had followed the dream to a life in a new country. Now it was time to make my germinated idea into a reality.
Sometimes to do what you love is almost as easy as just making a decision. And sometimes, it takes certain factors to align. For that germination of an idea to take time to simmer before being ready to serve. Such it was with my shops.
I can still remember sitting on the sofa bantering names for the new shop with Mr P. He was cooking up pizza, when suddenly he came up with Pumpjack & Piddlewick. And my new dream was born.
Dreams are wonderful things. Acting on them is not always easy. And many, sometimes without conscious thought, prefer dreams to remain dreams. The clue is in the phrase – ‘comfort zone’. Comfort is a lovely thing.
Not everyone is lucky enough to be in a country or situation that allows them to have many personal choices in life. Therefore, to be able to choose to do what you love is a very real privilege.
Your choices can bring hardship. Can even fail. But more often it brings conscious happiness. There is happiness in the decision itself. Definitely a satisfaction in working hard to achieve goals. And a contentment in simply trying.
Are you lucky enough to do what you love?
If you are unsure of how to go about doing what you love, or even understanding what you would like out of life, we recommend starting with a ‘bucket list’. (A bucket list is defined as a list of achievements or experiences you wish to accomplish in your life time.)
Create a list of 5 or even 10 things you would like to do in your life. They can be simple, quiet things. Or bold and brash. Take the time to consider. And over time, feel free to add to this list, adjust or detract.
Now pick one of your items. Maybe the one that most appeals, or may be the easiest to achieve. And figure out how to make it happen. It might be something you can achieve in a day, it may take a life time. Of note, a good part of the enjoyment is in the journey to your goal, as well as the goal itself.