A few nights ago a friend and I were talking about the moment when someone shows you their texts with their crush and asks you to analyze it with them, i.e.
As someone who has forever been half-hearted all my life so far, i *hate* that about myself. At different times, i have recognized it and decided to do something about it..but i have failed. But i am gonna try again.
I have this post bookmarked because when I read it four months ago, it was the tipping point that pushed me to end my five year retirement from my sport and return as an adult athlete. I;m back training and have not felt this alive and at peace in years. Thank you.
Enjoyed this piece immensely! Thank you. My question - how do you find your passion, your art, your love? I am at a crossroad; newly retired, happily married and searching. I excelled in my career, guided my family to achieve their independence, and pursued sports and friendships. Maybe my passion is to just take a breathe for now. I am not sure and I don’t like the uncertainty.
"how do you find your passion, your art, your love?"
I was grappling with this question a while ago and came across this quote by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: "For anyone trying to discern what to do with their life: Pay attention to what you pay attention to."
Something about this line just clicked inside my head and I started paying attention to the things - even minor things - my brain was attracted to or repelled by.
I wrote these things down in a "Resonate/Repel Logbook" and every so often, I would look through the logbook. Over time it became very clear what I was naturally drawn to (vs what I thought I *ought* to be drawn to). This clarity helped me say no to many things and say yes to a (few) other things.
This is by far the best way I have found to identify my true passion. Perhaps it may work for you as well. Good luck!
Pat, Whatever it is that you were good at during your career, and enjoyed the most, will show itself in another way that allows you to continue to use and share the best part of who you were during your career. Retirement doesn't change who you have excelled at being your entire life. It simply offers you a new and exciting opportunity to use your best self differently. Have fun discovering what that is and enjoy the journey. The journey is the best part of retirement. Gary
I have admired your writing without liking or commenting on all the articles I have sincerely liked and wished to have a conversation with your over. Wonder why I feel like commenting on this one but here goes. Your words and the sentiments behind them ring truer than a lot of things I hear most of the days and m truly grateful that you choose to share your words with the rest of us
I generally really like this post and copied several parts of it into my notes...
I understood it as saying that we form unrequited crushes when we're missing something in our lives and we're hoping someone else will fill us.
But I do wonder if this is indirectly argues that people who feel lost in their careers, or unsure where they are living, not sure about what they are studying in school, or stuck/lost on some sort of project...shouldn't pursue love or date until they have figured everything out entirely. Basically while you're feeling lost, you shouldn't be trying to connect or find romance with someone else. Because you're so needy. Given how much of life can be uncertain, that's a pretty tall order. Sometimes we are 'half-hearted' in life and figuring things out and maybe it's ok to want company or even be a bit needy.
I don't know ...just trying to work it out myself.
landed here from FS newsletter, never going to leave now. This hits right at heart, amazing writing!
Gosh! I am feeling this right now. Spent a few months in a fog of half heartedness chasing silly things ( person). I shall start over again!
Yeah man, same.
Same for me. Amazing!!
As someone who has forever been half-hearted all my life so far, i *hate* that about myself. At different times, i have recognized it and decided to do something about it..but i have failed. But i am gonna try again.
Thank you for writing this.
God, I love your writing.
I have this post bookmarked because when I read it four months ago, it was the tipping point that pushed me to end my five year retirement from my sport and return as an adult athlete. I;m back training and have not felt this alive and at peace in years. Thank you.
Thank you thank you! best thing i'm getting in my inbox by far - <3
Enjoyed this piece immensely! Thank you. My question - how do you find your passion, your art, your love? I am at a crossroad; newly retired, happily married and searching. I excelled in my career, guided my family to achieve their independence, and pursued sports and friendships. Maybe my passion is to just take a breathe for now. I am not sure and I don’t like the uncertainty.
"how do you find your passion, your art, your love?"
I was grappling with this question a while ago and came across this quote by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: "For anyone trying to discern what to do with their life: Pay attention to what you pay attention to."
Something about this line just clicked inside my head and I started paying attention to the things - even minor things - my brain was attracted to or repelled by.
I wrote these things down in a "Resonate/Repel Logbook" and every so often, I would look through the logbook. Over time it became very clear what I was naturally drawn to (vs what I thought I *ought* to be drawn to). This clarity helped me say no to many things and say yes to a (few) other things.
This is by far the best way I have found to identify my true passion. Perhaps it may work for you as well. Good luck!
Pat and Ava - I couldn't agree more with pay attention to what you are paying attention to. One 💡 is to write stuff down on a regularly occuring interval... for sure. I took it a step further and analyzed my email and browser history - http://www.frank-corrigan.com/2016/09/07/finding-my-passion-mining-browser-history-and-emails/. Might be worth thinking about.
Thank you for your insight. I like the idea of making notes and then reviewing them over time. This method could provide some interesting information.
Pat, Whatever it is that you were good at during your career, and enjoyed the most, will show itself in another way that allows you to continue to use and share the best part of who you were during your career. Retirement doesn't change who you have excelled at being your entire life. It simply offers you a new and exciting opportunity to use your best self differently. Have fun discovering what that is and enjoy the journey. The journey is the best part of retirement. Gary
I am interested in this thread!
Yes, agree with this sentiment. Finding a passion makes sense, but being something of a polymath makes the search elusive.
I have admired your writing without liking or commenting on all the articles I have sincerely liked and wished to have a conversation with your over. Wonder why I feel like commenting on this one but here goes. Your words and the sentiments behind them ring truer than a lot of things I hear most of the days and m truly grateful that you choose to share your words with the rest of us
In absolute awe of this one! gonna get a printout and stick it to my desk. such a shared experience, beautifully articulated. thanks!
same
I generally really like this post and copied several parts of it into my notes...
I understood it as saying that we form unrequited crushes when we're missing something in our lives and we're hoping someone else will fill us.
But I do wonder if this is indirectly argues that people who feel lost in their careers, or unsure where they are living, not sure about what they are studying in school, or stuck/lost on some sort of project...shouldn't pursue love or date until they have figured everything out entirely. Basically while you're feeling lost, you shouldn't be trying to connect or find romance with someone else. Because you're so needy. Given how much of life can be uncertain, that's a pretty tall order. Sometimes we are 'half-hearted' in life and figuring things out and maybe it's ok to want company or even be a bit needy.
I don't know ...just trying to work it out myself.
A lot o your writing hits home and sometimes leaves me teary eyed 🥺
Find something you love doing, then do it until you either die or don't love it anymore.
We are what we do. But we do what we say and say what we think, so I totally get what you're saying here.
<3
I've never felt both so therapeutic and called out by one piece this quickly. Thanks for hitting the spot, Ava, bless u 💙
I feel like the prescription of this article is to become the girl version of a sigma male
Every single line resonated.
I somehow landed here and this is the first time I am binge reading. Amazing writing <3