Question #2: Life-long passions; for Kondo it's organizing, what's yours?

[[deleted user]]

Author Marie Kondo says she's loved organizing and tidying since she was 5-years-old. Does this resonate with you? Does your current profession reflect your childhood interests?

[Nelia]

The author's statement stuck with me. It made me think about the things I enjoyed doing as a child. Currently, it seems as if there is a lot of discussion on living a simple and authentic life as the means of true happiness in our culture. I agree with this sentiment.Looking at my own professional life choices, I am proud to say that I am still doing the things I enjoyed doing as a child such as: writing, reading, researching, getting to know people -- with the important difference that now I get paid too.

[Darrell]

I agree, Nelia. I enjoy the simpler things in life (books, tea, art) and perhaps that's what drew me to becoming a librarian? I find this book really helping me to focus my hobbies and interests too on what "sparks joy" in my life and allowing me to get rid of the things that I keep for the "what if" or "maybe some day" things.

[Lena]

I really admire someone who can take their passion and turn it into an opportunity - and earn money while doing so. My lifelong passions have been reading, and textile work, neither of which are going to earn money anytime soon, unless I start charging $250 for a pair of knitted socks.
Another passion continues to be problem solving, which explains my science and math degree and the decades I spent in the computer industry. I also enjoy deciphering human behaviour, an open ended puzzle.
All along, I have been absolutely dismal at tidying and organizing, only tackling the job when I have expanded to fill my space, whatever size that space may be. I am looking forward to thanking my to-be-discarded items for their service to me and feeling the spark of joy in those items which remain. That sentence puts a smile on my face.

[Sylvia]

My lifelong passion is being both a student and a teacher. I am always taking courses-as a lifelong learner- I am currently studying Mandarin in a class with 14 year olds who are smart, and can easily get a credit. I am studying for interest & personal challenge. No money in it. But I did write a book approx 350 pages where I 'teach' what I have learned about thinking correctly. The book is a hybrid memoir/ self -help genre. I don't expect to make much money from it but I am shopping around for a publisher. That's a full-time career right there, haha. One life is not enough to do everything-to fulfill one's passions! But I'm trying:))

[Allison]

Lena wrote: "I really admire someone who can take their passion and turn it into an opportunity - and earn money while doing so. My lifelong passions have been reading, and textile work, neither of which are go..."

Lena, so nicely expressed. Your whole written passage puts a smile on my face. You might not make money on knitting socks, but you could possibly eke out an existence by opening up a specialty knitting store with exotic yarns, etc. and offering knitting classes so your customers can make their own socks! And then, you can write your own book! :) Loved your post. Thank you for brightening my day!

[Allison]

Sylvia wrote: "My lifelong passion is being both a student and a teacher. I am always taking courses-as a lifelong learner- I am currently studying Mandarin in a class with 14 year olds who are smart, and can eas..."

Sylvia, your pursuit of your passions is incredibly admirable. It is definitely never too late to go for it with such things and I hope you find the right publisher for your book. Keep us posted!

[Sylvia]

Thanks for your kind words Allison & I'll keep my fingers crossed for your good wishes on my landing a publisher-certainly will keep you folks posted!

[Kim]

Marie Kondo passion for tidying and organizing does resonate with me. My Mom asked me about a year ago if I had a glue stick (an item that I most likely would not have any use for). Not only did I have one but I knew exactly where to find it! I seem to be sort of a pack rat but a very organized one in that I can always find what I need even if it is not in your typical storage space. Cleaning is also a stress relief for me.
As someone who has recently finished my education and is looking to get into my profession I am not sure that what I want to do is something that I was passionate about when I was younger. I really had no idea what I wanted to do and as of right now I am still attempting to narrow it down!

[Allison]

Kim wrote: "Marie Kondo passion for tidying and organizing does resonate with me. My Mom asked me about a year ago if I had a glue stick (an item that I most likely would not have any use for). Not only did I..."

Kim, I can kind of relate here. I tend to group objects into general areas of my house, so any given item should be in one or maybe two possible (and logical!) places in the house. The problem happens when I diverge from this practice for some reason unbeknownst to me, and instead I put a certain object in a different location. Then, of course, I have trouble finding it and curse myself for not putting it its logical spot.

When I was in high school, I had passions for certain things: like language, math and drafting/interior design. But the only acceptable avenue for post-secondary education in the eyes of my father was the science route. I was not a strong science student. I went to university and studied science and a bit of math, and took elective courses in languages. Well, the result of this was that I was a very average and mostly dissatisfied student of the sciences, and a shining student of the languages. I ended up pursuing a second degree in Classics (Greek was my passion) and totally switching paths in life. Probably not the most profitable field to venture into, but it led me to librarianship, and I love being around books all day. In my off-time, I get creative with my home.

I tell all young people, who are having trouble deciding what to do, to look to the things they are good at and what they love, and focus on those. Everything should fall into place after that. It's incredibly important for people to work at what they love. Then it doesn't even feel like work at all. :)

[Nelia]

I agree with Allison's advice. Work at what you love so that you always look forward to going to work.

[Susan]

Oakville wrote: "Author Marie Kondo says she's loved organizing and tidying since she was 5-years-old. Does this resonate with you? Does your current profession reflect your childhood interests?"

I had to think on this a bit ... then realized that my passion when younger was reading and board games. I think I read everything the local library had to offer. So that passion has stayed with me ... and the board games have evolved to video games. Thanks for asking the question!

[Nelia]

Thank you for answering the question Susan. We are happy you are still reading!

[Tanya]

My passion has always been travel. Ever since I was 10, I've been planning trips around the world. Many of those trips have become a reality and more countries are added to my 'to go to' list yearly. Sadly, I haven't turned this into a profession but luckily I am married to someone who loves to travel just as much as I do. This topic has given me much to think about and I will need to give more thought on how I can incorporate travel into a profession.

[Nelia]

Tanya, I'm glad to hear (or, in this case, read) that you are pondering ways to tweak your life to add more passion and value to your every day.