I have frequently heard the adage that the mechanic’s car, the carpenter’s house, and the plumber’s pipes are the ones in most need of repair. It would appear, based on the frequency of hearing it combined with casual observation, that the adage appears to have some validity. Regardless of the trade or profession it would appear there is never enough time to get around to taking care of “your own stuff” like you would for a customer. Sure there are folks working in ways that they can or have to, but ostensibly folks apply for and get jobs because they have an aptitude for something they like doing. They have a genuine interest and are pursuing it. In many trades and professions it takes years of dedicated study and work to be recognized as a professional. One could say that folks who dedicate that much time and effort to be recognized as a professional or an expert have a passion for their field. However, as they get bogged down in the requirements of the day, spending countless hours working at their “passion”, there is nothing left when it comes to taking care of their own requirements. Even though they work every day doing something they are passionate about, they have no time or energy left to pursue their passion as they once did.
My grandmother’s passion was sewing. She started when she was a little girl on the farm sewing funeral clothes for animals. She used to tell how her and her siblings all had roles to play for the funerals they conducted for the animals. Her job was to sew the clothes for the chicken or whatever else it was they were burying. She used to giggle and laugh when she told the stories about the funerals and the clothes she sewed for the various animals. She became a seamstress and sewed until the day she died, literally. I traveled a lot and did not live in the same area as my grandmother for many years, but we frequently talked on the phone even from the other side of the world. The first question I would always ask her was if she had been sewing much. If she said “yes”, I knew everything was good. However, if she said she had not been sewing much lately, I knew she was not feeling well. I never asked her how she was doing because she would always say everything was great. She was not one to tell you something was wrong; even if it was obvious from her voice she would say, “Oh, I just have a frog in my throat” or something like that to preclude worry. However, if you asked the right question you could tell how she was doing. In her 90’s she still had customers for her sewing work and she completed a rather large sewing job the day she died. If the adage is the rule, she was certainly an exception. Nobody in her family ever wanted for proper fitting and mended clothing. I suspect that part of her longevity was the fact that she made time for her passion every day, that is unless she was sick and physically couldn’t.
Outside of work related passions, we all have something we are passionate about. It could be woodworking, drawing, painting, collecting something, reading a book, golf, or any number of possibilities. You know what you are passionate about. I suspect that most of us have at least some passion for playing bluegrass music or seeing a bluegrass show (see Brooks Judd’s January 29th Welcome Column “Express Line 2016”). Yet, for many of us life gets in the way of our passions. If we are fortunate enough to work in a field that we have a passion for we fall into the category of being too worn out to pursue our passions outside of work requirements; we essentially become the aforementioned adage. Similarly, for those passions outside of work, we are either too tired or too wrapped up in other requirements to take the time for our passions. So we work, work, work and never take the time to see that bluegrass show, go to a jam, or simply find enjoyment in our passions. It is similar to the wood cutter that does not take a break to sharpen the saw; he keeps working harder and harder, but cuts less wood as time goes on. If he took the time to take a break from cutting to sharpen the saw he would be more productive. Instead he just keeps working harder because he doesn’t have time to stop cutting wood.
So play some music; attend a bluegrass show; read your book; learn a new tune; finish that drawing; play some more bluegrass, attend another show, or both! Whatever it is, take time for your passions. Even when it doesn’t seem like you have time, you will likely find that when you take the time to pursue your passions you will be more productive when you return to work or the other tasks of life. We all get busy with competing requirements, but that is not a reason to ignore your passions. Ensure you prioritize your passions for your overall wellbeing; set aside time for them just like all of the other requirements. I know it is not a scientific sampling, but if my grandmother is any indication, it might also help you live longer (There has to be a study somewhere to support this concept). If taking time for your passion does not extend your life, at least you will have fun while navigating the myriad of requirements and trials along the way. After all life is short and it is better to die from your passion than from boredom.
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