I write and speak a lot about living your dreams, seeing your passions as God's calling on your life. I don't talk a whole lot about it at home. Or maybe I do and don't realize it. Maybe I talk about it by doing it--which I think moms can do. Your kids watch how you live your life, and learn a lot more from that, probably, thanthey do from your words.
Anyway, I was looking at my son's American Revolution report. He and a partner created a book, of sorts. He had to write his own bio at the end of it. Here's some of what he wrote about himself:
Aaron ... likes the film series Star Wars and watches it often. He also likes to build with the common building toy Lego’s. Many people think he is a good artist, and he thinks it is his passion. He says his motto is “Follow your passion.”
How many fifth graders do you know that have thought about their life's motto? And to have one like that? Here's a boy steeped in the suburban culture that is all about achievement, mostly in sports. But he's not into sports (except golf). He loves art, he draws every day just for fun. I think for him it's a kind of spiritual practice. He doesn't want to compete, he wants to do what he loves. You can see his artwork in the photo below.
He knows who he is, he follows his passion instead of following the crowd. I feel blessed to be his mom.
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4 comments:
Wow, that is awesome. I've taught a lot of kids that age and you're right - most of them are concerned with following the crowd - or winning someone's approval. Great that a 5th grader gets "passion" and knows what his is.
My passion is an interior design. I haven't gone to school for it, but love to be creative and find a great pleasure in doing it. It took me about 20 years to figure it out - that that's what i want to do, so it's impressive that your son has already discovered it! But God has been good in giving me opportunities to develop my skills in giving me jobs where i could grow as a designer. But i keep on asking myself a question "Is this where God wants me to be?". And i ask this question because, even though i get a chance to do what i love, i am in a position that requires almost all of my energy, mainly physically, but that affects me spiritually also. After reading your book "Breathe", i've been thinking a lot about slowing down and living out my priorities or it would be better to say God's priorities for me. My job is very demanding of my time and energy. I have to do traveling 2-3 days a week to a different city and being gone for about a week seven times this year with 13 hours of work each day and starting at 6:00 a.m. I've just returned from one of those trips out of state and am overly exhausted that even after 13 hours of sleep i couldn't open my eyes. And that makes me think that question even more: "Is that where God wants me to be?" I have no kids yet and when i tell my friends that i don't know if i can do this job anymore they don't understand me. They just think that i'm not content with what God gave me. And i start questioning myself if that's true - if i'm just complaining. My husband and i were blessed by this job because it was more money than my previous one, and it is a reason to be thankful. I also didn't have as many opportunities to grow in my skills as i have now - another reason to be content. But i have more responsibilities and definitely more stress now. I just feel like i have no energy left for God or people in general after i come back from work. All i want to do is wedge on a couch and eat my dinner. I just recently got an interview with another furniture store for a visual position that will require less of me physically and only 15 minutes of commuting, but more boring tasks and responsibilities and less challenges that will allow me to grow in my skill. So here i am with a question” Is this God giving me a chance to slow down and have more margin in my life even though it will be sometimes boring, or this is just me not being content and when I’ll get that job, I’ll find other reasons to wine?"
Lesya,
A lot of us think that if we have time that is not filled with adrenalin rush, we'll be "bored." But in order to perform optimally, we need time to rest. Most of us have forgotten how.
Here's some things to pay attention to: how you feel after a day of work, or a business trip. And the fact that you sought out a different job. You listen to your friends--that's important, but are you listening to yourself, too? Are there other options somewhere between exhaustion and boredom? (are you thinking, without realizing it, that if you're not exhausted you will be bored?)
Are there other things you'd like to explore outside of work that would be refreshing to you? Can you even consider those things if you continue in your present job?
Take some time to be still and to listen. You may find my book Listen helpful as you navigate this transition.
blessings
Keri
Keri,
Thank you so much for your encouragement.
I don't think i'm afraid of being bored if i'm not exhausted. I like the balance of work and rest. The thing with a new job offer is that the majority of my time i will do the tasks that have nothing to do with creativity (that's what i meant by "boring"), and it does not necesseraly mean that i will not be busy.
You suggested that i needed to listen to myself as i'm getting advice from others. I think it's an easy, but in the same time a hard thing to do. I'm afraid that i will make the wrong judgement about myself. Like i said that i don't know if i'm just complaining or i really need to slow down.
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