Photo via Sloan Photographers
“The task is to recognize that you are uniquely special, have something to give, some talent that no one else shares in quite the same way. This gift needs to blossom so we can appreciate and enjoy the benefits of it and acknowledge you for it. You owe this to yourself and to all of us to honor your gifts, for only when you share this unique joy with the world does the entire world benefit. Every advance mankind has known has come because of someones effort. Don’t let shyness rob you and the world of the power and the passion that lies within you. No one can be all that you will be except yourself. Follow your passion.
-Joel Garfinkle
Passion is defined as a powerful emotion such as love, joy, hatred, or anger. Life gives us many things to be passionate about. Every time I watch the Olympics, I am so inspired by the passion these athletes have for the sports that they are in. Some of these athletes have dedicated decades to their sport. The endless hours of demanding workouts, the numerous injuries that have plagued many of them, the countless dollars they have spent to keep on competing, the stress and nerves of competition, all for the love of their sport. They live for it. They are motivated by their passion for it, and we, the spectator, we the fans, reap the rewards of their hard work as we cheer them on to hopeful victory. I envy their passion.
There are positive and negatives passions all around us. Seek out only the positive things in life that you are passionate about. What is your passion? Have you found it yet? What is it that you have always dreamed of doing, or seeing, or being, but have never quite accomplished it? Has fear gotten in the way of what you are passionate about? The truth is, I don’t know a single person who isn’t afraid of something. It seems that we all have a fear of some sort of failure. I know that I do. Fear has been my biggest enemy in life. I still struggle from time to time with it. But when we can learn to control our fears, then we can let our passions shine.
Take out a notepad and make a list of the things that you are passionate about. What things are you good at? What are things that you have been wanting to achieve or do? Maybe you want to travel more, write a book, learn a new sport, excel in your job, open up a restaurant, own your own store, learn to sew, learn to snowboard, buy your dream car, learn to public speak, lose weight, learn to cook, make more money, make new friends, whatever it is that you want to achieve, it can be possible. But you must have the drive, determination, and the passion to succeed. You may think of a million ways in which you will fail and you may say it can’t be done. To that I say, who would have ever thought that people would drive in cars, fly in planes, travel to space, search on something called the internet, talk on a cell phone, the list is endless. Passionate men and woman had a vision of what they wanted to achieve, and they let nothing stand in their way, and we are the ones who are benefiting from their passion. You too can dream big. You too can make it happen, whatever it is for you. I’ve said it before, and I will repeat myself, there is no one else like you on this planet. You are you, and no one else will ever be you. You have passions and a potential inside of you. Find out what your passions are. Let nothing stop you or stand in your way, especially your own self. Let your passion shine for those around you. Let your gifts be known. Bless the lives of those around you, and reap the rewards of your passions.
Hope On. Journey On.
Jenna