Live with Passion

So, so, so proud of my husband for finishing school! It's been 5 years of hard work and it's finally going to pay off; all he has to do is take the required state testing and he will officially be a Journeyman Electrician. Honestly, I couldn't be more proud of him. He has come so far in his lifetime, even since I first met him, and he just continues to inspire and motivate me everyday.

This picture is old, but I found it too cute not to add

  Yesterday, after he finished his last final, he was talking to me about how he is slightly bummed he doesn't get a graduation ceremony or anything like that. He even said something that sounded like "all I did was a 4 year apprenticeship program at a community college", like it wasn't something to be proud of. I don't think he could be more wrong. Everyone has a place in this world, in society. Some people choose to be doctors or big time actors/actresses and have money up the wazoo, and while society needs those people we also need people like mechanics, servers, even customer service agents (who speak English and aren't located in India), and electricians. The most important thing you can do for yourself is to follow your interests and find your passion. Mike just happens to love electricity, he always has so if he didn't follow that passion or he gave up on it, I would have had to kick his bum! I love that my husband has been lucky enough to find his passion and make a living off of it.

Someone who is a prime example to me of "living with passion" is my mom. I was a pretty angry teenager when she informed me we were moving to California so she could go back to school to pursue a master's degree. I didn't understand the importance of the move at the time, because all I cared about was me. Me in a new school, me with new friends, me away from everything I've ever known...me, me, me. I'm sure with all my, very literal, "kicking and screaming" it was hard for my mom to follow through with that decision, but I'm so glad she did. She received a Master's degree in Non-Profit Organization, and is currently working at the high school my sister's and I have attended, motivating students to get involved in the community and helping them with their career choices. Although she's pretty much working 5 different jobs all at once there, I can honestly tell she's enjoying what she's doing--and that makes me happy. Check out her blog, Bina's Blog for Good Works, about noticing good works in everyday life. Share a story you may have about someone you've noticed who does or has done good in your life/community.

I am also trying to live with passion. Part of that decision I made not to become a nurse or a teacher, came from me understanding that those weren't my passions. My passion is writing, and although I have no idea what I will do for work when I do decide to work again, at least I know I'm learning more about something I love and that someday I'll figure out where I want to go with it. Sometimes the scariest things we do in life, are often times the best things we'll ever experience. Me deciding on a major with almost no career path in mind was pretty scary, but I know something good will come of it.

I'm so proud of Mike for pursuing his passion, and even though he doesn't have a Bachelor's degree like he may feel he needs, he gets pride and joy in what he gets to do everyday--and that is more than enough for me. After all, a happy husband is a happy life. Or is it a "happy wife is a happy life"? Eh, I think our happiness is equally important :).

Just find your passion, and whether you get to make a little money or a lot, make sure you have something in life that you enjoy doing, and do it! I absolutely love the commencement speech Steve Job's gave to Stanford in 2005. Listen to it on you tube, you won't be disappointed.

My favorite part...

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." 

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish"

-Steve Jobs