(Blog-Off II Entry) Tell me your heart's deepest desire...

Has someone ever told you to “Keep your eye on the prize?”  I've been thinking about why this isn't always a good idea. 

When you keep your eye strictly focused on a goal - an end - you risk crashing into things along the way.  If you really hope to get ahead in life, all you need to do is focus on your path.  If there is one lesson I've learned well on my life's rough ride, it's that happiness really comes from "choosing" to enjoy the journey and not focusing on the destination.  (I mean, we all know how this ultimately ends, right?)

The next time work, classes, family or any other pressure leaves you stressed out, just take a moment and stop.  Check closely and see if you are not just way too worried about results. You can choose to think a different thought at any time.  Just take a deep breath and go back to being yourself - but a little better.

We need others to love what we're doing ...and that's perfectly OK

No matter how deeply you care; no matter how in sync you are with the world, you cannot do it alone.  Each of us needs support in order to reach our dreams, whatever they may be.  In recent years, I've found support in the most unexpected places, and when I least expected it.  Perhaps, this was simply because I finally decided to be happy.

Finding your inspiration
This past July, I was inspired by a movie -Julie & Julia.   What a surprise this was.  A film about the life of Julia Child, of all people, had struck an amazing chord in me.  Child was a maverick.  The daughter of a well-to-do American family, she grew up in a different time, yet here I was totally relating to her struggle. When she was young, girls like her were expected to marry young men from "good" families, have kids, and do what the other wives did: golf, tennis, lunch, volunteer, whatever - nothing really.

When Julia Child (finally) married, did she settle down?  Absolutely not.  Instead of having babies, she decided to go to cooking school and learn classic French cuisine! Even other Americans living in France at the time thought this woman was nuts.  Why pursue cooking of all things they asked, that was what the domestic help was for (don't we all wish).  We can laugh at this now but it was a very different era.

Julia's husband, Paul, a decidedly unconventional man himself, encouraged Julia to pursue her passion. In fact, Paul Child was a key contributor to Julia's book, taking all the photographs and helping to edit the massive manuscript that was to become Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julia also found support from an unexpected friend, Judith Jones at Knopf, who immediately understood Julia's vision.  She championed the book in the US and helped get the first edition to press.

Lesson: If you are a student with a dream, a small business owner who wants to make a difference, an inventor with a bright idea, or anyone who DESIRES to create, you need at least one devoted fan to help get you there. That person likely already exists in your life. Relax and think about it; you'll discover your own cheerleader.

The Bottom Line
If you (like me) care about leaving the world a slightly better place, then it's possible we can follow Julia's example, and commit to following our passions in whatever way we can.  There's no guarantee any of us will have a big hit on our hands but we can't make a difference if our ideas never see daylight. We can't make a difference doing anything at all if our hearts aren't in it.  It took me nearly 20 years of heartache to learn this lesson, so, if I can save someone else the pain, I have to give it a try.

Someone asked me recently why I chose to blog. For a moment, I was stumped. I think I mumbled, "Well, I guess I am just doing it for me."  Was that right?  I’ve thought long and hard on it since and I realized that I now own who I am  -  a passionate, concerned human being with a good brain and some writing ability.  I am following my dream ...a dream of communicating, creating, working with words, talking to people, and sharing their stories. 

It's been six months since I saw a movie that made a difference in my life.  I'm starting to feel like a blogger, and someone who can make a difference.  My goal is to put something out there in the world that leaves it with a little more love.  You  could say that my reason for blogging is my reason for being.

What's your deepest passion, your dream or desire?  I'd love to hear about it.

Comments

[Kenneth]

I agree with Laurie...this is powerful stuff. Keep it coming!

[Elizabeth Thomas]

Rich:

I fear you are absolutely right...wisdom is earned - then learned. Nicely put. I have also often thought in these later years, "Gee, my dad was right. Why didn't I listen to him back then?" The hardest lessons, well, we just have to learn them for ourselves.
There were times that I was able to hear and absorb advice when it came from a more objective source, so that is what I can offer my readers.

Thank you for the response, and for following along. Happy Holidays!

[Rich]

Elizabeth, I do enjoy your posts.
I love the earnest remark you make: "It took me nearly 20 years of heartache to learn this lesson, so, if I can save someone else the pain, I have to give it a try."
Oh if that would only work, the world would be such a better place.
How often I ignored my parent's words of wisdom thinking, "what do they know?, they don't know what I am going through". And I see the same response in my own grown children. It has been my experience that wisdom is something we gain through pain. It is earned, then learned.
But, if my dad was here he might say, "you could be wrong on that one Rich". :)

[E Busija]

I like how you described yourself--- a passionate, concerned human being... that will take you far.

[Donna]

Great post! I loved the line, "In recent years, I've found support in the most unexpected places, and when I least expected it." Somehow I think that has defined us. Definitely an unexpected relationship.

You have overcome many challenges and always remain positive and on track. That is difficult to do and still cheer others on. You have the gift to touch others with your writing.

[Misty]

Thanks for the inspiration. :D

[Tim]

What we use as inspiration right? I mean I try to use my friends at times but it seems like there are times I only inspire myself by thinking about my family. You are doing great. :) Keep up the good work.

[Elizabeth Thomas]

Darlene and Laurie: Thank you both! I am so pleased to read such warm responses. They mean everything to me. I am enjoying both of your wonderful posts as well.

[Darlene Sabella]

Wow, Elizabeth that is an awesome article. Your writing style is so smooth and flowing. It's like you are sitting in the room talking to me. And, yes I get it....it's called passion.
Take a look at my post if you find any time let me know what you think. Thanks so much.

[laurie]

Ah, Elizabeth.
What a powerful post. I enjoyed reading this immensely. And must rent the movie now knowing that this has made such a big impact!

Your lesson gives me a double take - in that I've had friends that suggest choosing a business partner carefully as there are horror stories about having the wrong business partner. And so I've long thought, in my young small business life, a sole proprietorship makes a good setup - and so envision the journey as a bit of lonely one but with strategic partners.

I really get that you are not talking about a formal role here. You use the word 'fan' and so I see the parallel that you are making between a successful person committed to a dream and the champion who supports it. I've seen other successful people with that recipe (Eleanor Roosevelt comes to mind) but I had not thought of my own business this way.

Nice eye opener.
Thanks!
Laurie.