What’s your Passion?
Checklist: Have a job – yes
Have a pet – yes
Have someone special in my life I like to spend time with – yes
Have friends – yes
Have my health – yes
Have a ton of books I haven’t yet read – yes
Ever have that feeling something is missing but you don’t know what it is? You look around and it appears you have everything you need so shouldn’t you be feeling a little more satisfied/content?
Three weeks ago I bought a piano. No, its not a cure for cancer and I’m still 25 pounds overweight but do I feel so much better ! My mother scrimped and saved so I could take lessons as a little girl. I’ve played for enjoyment all of my life, even taught beginner classes for many years. Until three years ago………..I moved and couldn’t bring my big old upright piano with me to my new, very small home. I didn’t think I’d miss it. Truth was in the old house it had been sitting downstairs, sometimes ignored for days at a time. My life at that time was in a huge state of disarray. When I moved it seemed there were many more issues that needed my attention than whether or not I had a piano. But I should have paid attention. That piano was more than just a piece of furniture or a little diversion. It was part of me.
Without really knowing it or giving it voice that piano had played an important part in my well-being most of my life. While growing up I used it to express my self, what I was feeling, sad, mad, happy, in love, broken hearted. There was music for every emotion and it was a safe outlet. Every place I lived after leaving my parents home, I realize now, I found a way to have a piano, even in my very small apartment on the Indian Reservation – I rented a piano ! While raising two kids in Alaska, I had a piano and taught lessons so I could stay home with them. When we moved back to Ohio my father-in-law gave me the use of a big player grand piano that I finally had a house big enough to hold. Then I divorced. The piano I’d had growing up joined me in the next home and provided me with a way to supplement my income – teaching piano – again.
It wasn’t until a few months ago I realized what was missing. Walking through the mall I passed a piano store and was drawn to the pianos on display. Once my fingers touched the keys I knew. I had to find a way to make a piano a reality in my “new” home. I measured. I moved books. I moved furniture. I relocated my “office”. Finally there was a space for the small piano I found in the mall.
It was delivered. I cried. It came with a book of Classic Music pieces. I played. I cried some more. My fingers were stiff but muscle memory is a strong thing. It all came back. Since that day three weeks ago I have played everyday – sometimes for 20 minutes, sometimes for hours. Its been wonderful. The piece that was missing inside has been put back in place. It’s that outlet that rounds out my well-being.
What’s yours? What is your passion and how are you feeding it? Do you read? Do you journal? Walk? Exercise? Go for coffee with a friend? Whatever it is TAKE TIME FOR IT EVERYDAY ! We all need to feed our spirit in a way that speaks to us . It smooths off the rough edges of our days, of our lives.
Its winter. Now is the time to rediscover that passion.