Passion: Connecting you to your Joy

As a certified Passion Test facilitator, of course I continue to tell people the joy that following their passions will bring into their lives.  I believe that with my whole heart, and do all I can to keep following my own passions, in any ways that I can.  Sometimes they are tiny, baby steps that are taken towards getting that little bit closer to what I'm passionate about. Other times they are leaps that throw me into the center of the joy that is my passion. 

What I've loved watching over the past several weeks is seeing my husband immersed in the joy of his passion. Previous posts have introduced you to the little cabin on the hill.  It is truly his little piece of heaven, as it slowly comes together into what he has imagined it would be from the beginning.

Over the past couple of weeks, he's spent countless hours up there.  The deck is built, the woodstove and Cheney are in place, and this week the door and the window went in.  So far the entire project has cost about $800, most of that being on the deck, and I will admit, it's a nicer deck than I have off the front door at home.  But the joy he is getting from the time, view and peace that he is finding on this project.  Priceless.

My cocoon of joy and contentment is right here at home.  I can spend days on end in the comfort of this home I've created and never feel the need to venture further, but I finally put on my boots the other day to go and see what it is he's accomplished.  I know that in the sharing of it is more pleasure than he will ever admit to.  I ended up arriving at the cabin just about sunset, which is way too early these days, but it helps knowing that in a few short weeks our days will start to lengthen again.  

It had been an unseasonably warm day when I walked up there.  He'd rushed home from helping a neighbor to try and make the best of the warm day by washing the old, recycled windows and doors he'd installed.  The plan wasn't to spend a lot of time up there, so there was no fire going in the woodstove when I arrived.  That didn't matter, the sun through the windows had it nicely warmed up anyhow.

As much as I tease him about this project, I am so glad that he's given himself permission to pursue it. To see the joy and happiness that he derives from being at this place is so great, knowing that he is living out one of his dreams.  Something I think he's been afraid to give himself permission to do for much of his life. 

So tonight, as the evening draws near, we will be Celyn away together.  Not to any exotic, warm destination, nor on any of the big adventures that we tell ourselves we'll take one of these fine days.  Instead we're going to watch the sun set over the valley that we love so dearly.   We'll be sitting on those worn out kitchen chairs that furnish the space at this point, around the crackling fire that he's undoubtedly had going since he headed up there himself earlier today.  We will toast the day that we've had the pleasure of experiencing, and grateful for it, ask that we be given one more tomorrow.  It's taken a lot of living to realize that these little moments really are the big ones.

My hope for you is that you'll take a little time to think about what it is that you too are passionate about, and give yourself permission to pursue it in any way you can.  Moving towards the things we love and dream about doesn't mean walking away from the lives we have now.   It means finding ways in the everyday to ensure that your passion and joy is honored, celebrated and acknowledged in whatever way you can, trusting that when the time is right you'll be able to do it in the way you imagine is perfect for you.   Just enjoy the journey.  And if you think it would help to find a quiet, rustic little building to sit by a fire in and watch the sun set with a glass of wine...you know where to find us.   Come join us at any time!