back on the passion quest....

This blog entry is probably going to sound very "Carrie-esque" from Sex and the City, you know lots of rhetorical questions, however my entry focuses on finding passion in the work you do or want to do.

I think this has been a big topic for me in the last couple of weeks because of Emily's interest in finding out what she loves to do- what is the one thing when she is passionate about so many different things? So I have been having talks with people about this, reading articles and websites and have some questions and thoughts of my own.

Firstly, I wonder if perhaps I expect to have it all- you know, great place to live, energetic work environment, eclectic social life. What I have found since moving to Kenya is that I love where I live and I do have an eclectic social life, which leaves the one area out of the "great" category. Although, not tested I probably have some form of A.D.D. and as a result need a work environment that is energetic, vibrant, has water cooler chats, and hopefully something that doesn't require such a 9-5 lifestyle. Everyone knows this about me at work, so I'm not committing some awful "blog-sin" by writing about work on my blog (don't worry Mom).

So here comes the "Carrie" question: Can we have it all? Work, location, and life? I am sure we can, but how do you find it? And how do you figure out what your passion is when you are passionated and interested in a number of different things. For example: my passions include meeting new people, asking questions, reading, traveling, and outdoor sports. So basically my new career could be ... hmmm... a Club Med host? Or a journalist for an Outdoor magazine (but then I would need to go back to school).

Here is a bit of "food for thought" from a website called "One Week Job"= that Emily told me about.

Mark Anderson recently wrote a provocative column for the Ottawa Sun, examining Sean and the One Week Job project from a new angle.

He writes:

“To a greater or lesser extent, we’re all defined by what we do. Worse yet if we’re not doing what we think we should be doing, if we’re not “living up to our potential” (an angst-ridden phrase if ever there was one). Young people in particular struggle with issues of identity and career, of who they are and what they should be doing with their lives.”

In the end, does anyone really find their purpose in life? And can it be combined with their passion? One reader defined the idea of purpose in a unique way, that certainly fits the idea for One Week Job:

“Like so many of us who believe we don’t know our “Purpose” and need to find it - our purpose truly is more of a guide or compass than an actual destination. “

And often times we give up passion for money- justifying that we need the money to pursue our passions, which then has us counting down the days each week until the weekend... hmmm...dilemma.

Ending on a positive note- I do get to travel to Uganda for work, starting tomorrow for one week- which is just fabulous and means that I might get to zip out of an afternoon meeting to try river rafting on the Nile.