What Can't You Live Without? Do you know your passions?

Recently I was having a conversation with someone who gets me thinking.  You know those folks that ask great questions?  Those questions that you might not be able to answer right off the bat.  The hard questions that make you dig and actually stop for more than three seconds to come up with an honest answer.  Our discussion turned to considering what things are absolutely necessary in one's life.  What one considers absolutely necessary to have on a daily basis - like air to breathe.Stop for a second and consider this.  I'm not actually talking about air and food and water, so forget about that.  I'm not talking about your job either.  I'm talking what is so important to you and who you are that you absolutely need these things for you to be you.  What do you need to make you happy?  What do you need to feed your being?This may be easy peasy for some of you.  I am what I consider a dabbler.  I have a LOT of interests and actually LOVE a lot of things.  I always wish I had more hours in each day so that I can "dabble" in many different things.  If you have been around this site you know that I love fitness.  I love to move.  I love to encourage and motivate people.  I love food and to cook and to incorporate the celebration of food into the day.  I love to be outside and work in the garden and outdoors.  I love to dabble in creative projects - whether it be painting, stitching, refinishing furniture and, of course, writing.  I also love books and to read just about anything I can get my hands on.  I love my quiet time and time to explore my faith.  I love talking to people and learning their stories and history.  I love exploring, seeing new places and trying new things.  Last, but not least, I love my family.  I think that one goes without saying.  I definitely have to have my family like I have to have air to breathe.As you can see I have a lot of things on my list.  I could add a few other things to this list, but then I think it just gets ridiculous.  The purpose is to narrow it down to determine your passion.  You would think this would be fairly easy.  However, I think we become so conditioned to being busy and basically getting through the day that we leave our passions behind.  Eventually, we forget what they are.  I know how crazy a day can be just doing the basics of getting up and through the morning routine, going to work, getting home and then being pulled by another set of responsibilities.  By the time you can finally sit down you are probably too tired to consider what you really want to be doing, much less having the energy to do it!I get that.  However, I also know that we were all created to be more than a one dimensional being.  We were all gifted with different interests, talents and passions.  We are more than our day job.  We have more to offer than clean laundry.  I think we all owe it to ourselves and to those around us to begin carving out some time to explore these things.  What a gift to those around you for them to see you thrive!  Isn't that what our children need to see?  How often do you hear of folks who put these things off for later or retirement - and have hobbies and dreams and passions that are never fulfilled.What is also interesting here is how these things may change.  Time,  events and life can change a person's passions, priorities and thoughts on how they want to spend their time.  I know this has happened to me.  I do not have the same goals and "causes" today that I had ten,  or even five years ago.  Some are quite different due to life experiences.  There are some loves that are still the same and others are even stronger due to those life events.  Isn't that interesting?So here I am.  Thinking.  Dreaming.  Considering that I will soon be forced to "celebrate" my fiftieth birthday.  Did I just type that?  Yep.  I'll have been here for a bunch of years.  Some say it's a milestone.  I say it makes you think about the next phase of life.  How does that next phase look?  What will you do with your time?  The point of this exercise is to force us to take the time and consider where we are and where we want to be.  What things do we need to be doing?  What things do we need to hold on to and cultivate because these are the things we need like we need air to breathe?  What do you want to do each and every day because it makes you feel like a whole person? What can't you live without?   Are you doing things you love?  Do you even remember what you really love to do?  Was it easy for you to make your list?Enjoy Your Day!