I have a taste of what it means to “do what you love” in life. There are a lot of books and self-help guides and schools of thought around the importance of doing what we love in life. There is the idea that if we follow our passion, our true calling, everything will work out. Money is often a concern in this equation, as a lot of “dream” jobs are not guaranteed money makers.
At my recent cd release party, I felt the elation and contentment of singing my songs and sharing them with others. Doing this, however, does not come easily or without significant work. Many hours and months and even years were put into the creation of the cd as well as the concert itself. To put in that much effort for something that does not mean much to you would just not happen. The only reason I put in so much effort, despite the lower financial output, is because I love doing it. It is not always easy, and not always exciting, but for the thrill of moments like I had during the concert, it is always worth it. It is not logical, it is intuitive. When you find something you love, you will do it no matter what is costs (or doesn’t pay) and despite challenges and struggles. The truth is, why would I work towards something and put a lot of effort into something I am not passionate about and do not believe in? I just won’t and don’t. So what I do love and put effort into, music, ends up being the most rewarding thing in my life BECAUSE I put that effort in. When we put so much effort into something we love, it is so unbelievably rewarding.
And now, as I embark on a new calling, that of parenthood and motherhood, I will try to remember this. For I know bringing a child into the world and raising it is a HUGE job, much bigger than releasing a cd. So I think perhaps it will also be that much more rewarding. This is what I tell myself when I feel afraid and have self-doubt about doing such an important job. It will be interesting to see what kind of music and other creative expressions come out of this amazing, challenging, and life-changing experience. Stay tuned!
