live for what you love

[Jennifer5]

Do what you love to do and never think twice about it.... because if you don't, before you know it your dreams will be out of reach.




okay tell me if this doesn't make any sense...

This lady we know who is really sweet asked me today if I know what I want to do when I'm older... I said I have no idea...

I was telling her about the 1000 Watt March and Soulforce and everything... and I said I don't know what I want to do because everything I love, doesn't pay anything... I said I just need a job that pays a ton so that I can support all the things that I live for.

She just turned to me and said that in this case... just do what you love, not what you should in this case because it's to easy to get tied into that life you don't want... live for what you love, and never trade that in for anything...

To me this said a lot coming from someone who seems to have anything she could ever wish for...

Am I just crazy? Does this make any sense?

[Vanessa White]

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.

Impossible is nothing."

I absolutely agree with what that woman told you, Jen. Any dream is within our reach, we only have to go after it. It doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means that you do what you absolutely feel passionate about, and the other details of living and survival fall into place. I mean, I don't want to sound like there aren't challenges, like how to financially sustain oneself when what one wants to do doesn't pay much, or anything. BUt we always find a way. I have worked in human services for 22 years, I make better money now, but for years did not. I still did things I dreamed- went back for my Master's degree, had a child, bought a house, had my partner at home full time with our child- dreams I had that came to be a reality, because we always found a way to manage the details, usually having to do with money. I have never given up on my dreams, even when I feel too tired to try to pursue them, I get peaceful and wait. I let go, and life comes to me. For those that don't pursue dreams, life becomes an exercise in building resentment toward those that do. I have been on the receiving end of that many times, and it feels lousy. GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!

[Zerbie]

Oh Jen honey - what a wonderful gem of advice that lady gave you!!

You sound like me, ya know. Everything I have wanted to devote my life to either doesn't pay at all, doesn't pay enough to live on, or only does if you are in the 1% of those who become superstars. The things I have wanted to do full time:

sing opera
yoga
gay rights activism
contemplate and study The Meaning Of It All

Hahahahaha!!!!! but ya know what? I said I am NEVER going to take a job just to earn money. (cept I did when young because my parents forced me, they taught that money is the only reason you take a job, imagine the philosophical conflicts we had!)

Anyway, somehow I survived even when all the odd little jobs I had cobbled together fell through after 911. Everything I did job-wise was something I really wanted to try. My job life looks like this (starting after college, not counting ringing a register at a pharmacy as a high school student):

theater usher
house manager of 3 theaters
bookstore employee
office temp (BLECH! So not me!)
professional opera chorus member
professional choir/ensemble singer
singing teacher
English teacher at a private high school
soloist at a Christian Science church
massage therapist
professional opera singer (solo and principal roles)

I will not gloss over and say it was anything like easy finding ways to survive with all the low-paying indie contractor jobs and no health benefits. But I DID survive. And now I have done so many interesting and wonderful things! Now I'm working part time as a singing teacher and getting a doctorate, and wondering what new adventure to take up next.

You are very young - when you get out on your own, there is plenty of time for you to explore various paths, and not much at stake - you have time to save for retirement (A long way off), you aren't supporting a family or committed to mortgage payments, so your options will be open. Follow the exciting opportunities that will for sure come your way. There is time to make committed decisions later. Many people in the modern world follow two or more different careers in their lifetime now. You don't have to be a shoe-maker for 50 years, ya know?

My only suggestion is that you develop skills. You obviously have computer skills already. With skills, you can always temp or take a drone job for a short time when there are drought periods in what you really want to do. Even more fun if you develop specific skills that point towards one or more of your passions. (speak 3 languages, design software, write grant proposals, whatever. . . .)

[Mia14]

When I didn't know what to do with my life, I turned to you guys here. You told me to contact Mel White. He told me to talk to Haven, who I happened to be at an activist training with at the time.

She told me not to worry as long as I have passion and commitment. As long as I have passion, I can find something I want to do. As long as I have the commitment, I can make it through no matter what happens along the way. So whenever things get a bit rougher, I check that back pocket for those two jewels.

Not sure if it'll help you, but it helped me loads.

[Jennifer5]

thanks, all of you... I needed to hear that what she said did make sense... I understood what she was saying and not getting something wrong here


I like the expensive lifestyle... but I like adventure even more!

[Vanessa White]

Go forth and adventure, Jen- with all of our loving arms around you......

BE WHO YOU ARE MEANT TO BE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Daniel]

Joseph Campbell was famous for telling his students: "Follow Your Bliss", which I recently heard quoted by Anderson Cooper (CNN). His mother, who would have known Campbell, I bet, told this to him when he was feeling out of sorts and didn't know what to do with him self (I saw them both interviewed on Oprah recently). So, guess what? You're in good company.

Like Haven, I think passion is a necessary item along they way. I would also meditate on and visualize where you would like to be in 5 years and make a concrete plan to get there- everything happens in small steps it seems. And if you have no idea what you want to be doing, making a plan on dealing with that would be in order. One has to gather information before one can use it. And worrying, though it feels like something is happening, is not doing anything at all. All smoke and no fire. Passion, like fire, lights up the dark.

[Vanessa White]

Passion and planning.... well said, Daniel..

[Jennifer5]

thank you all