Passion for Something. Day 97.

Someone was at my house this weekend and saw my red piano.

“Who plays?” she asked.

“I do,” I said. I instantly felt a little guilty.

The fact is, I haven’t played in some time because we’ve been busy around here, but I do love to. I go through weird phases when I will play frequently for weeks at a time, then weeks when I don’t play at all. I’m like that with knitting, baking, and quite frankly, exercising. I just can’t stick to them because although I love them all, I don’t have a daily, undying passion for them.

Max and I were talking about his future the other day, and what he wants to major in when he takes his next college step. It should be something he loves, or at least likes, to do, but it doesn’t have to be his passion. Although our conversation was to give him advice, I learned from it.

I think as humans in a social media-driven society we don’t appreciate the little things we do, the talents or hobbies we have that are simple parts of our lives. Just because I don’t have a daily passion for knitting doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy making the occasional blanket, scarf, or anything else that’s square. I love to play “Oh Holy Night” during the holiday season and “Cannon in D” sounds pretty smooth when I play the keys. We put too much pressure on ourselves to drive everything we do with passion when dabbling and piddling are just as worthy. We simply put too much pressure on ourselves to be the best at everything we do. Who’s got time for that?