Confucius Say…

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius

So, I’ve been doing a bit of deep thinking over the past few days, (which probably means I need more sleep and am about to make no sense, lol, so bear with me as this post is most likely going to be all over the place), about passions. I have lots of passions. I’m passionate about running, writing, good food, books, films, health, and family. And maybe a few other things. I love the exhilerating feeling of pushing myself during a run while the sun shines cheerily on my face, it’s golden beans seemingly filled with an aura of my small successes, I love pouring my soul onto paper, watching the words in my heart flow out from the ink in my pen, I adore the way good food leaves you with that sense of happy fulfillment or the way a good book or film can tug at your heartstrings and make an imprint on your soul, changing the way you view life forever. Because I love these things so much, I try to fill my life with them all as much as possible. Which makes sense right? You should endeavor to have a life filled to the brim with the things that bring you happiness.

But when do these passions become obsessions? When does enjoying something turn into being addicted to something, when do we cross that line and go too far and no longer have the passions be a part of us but become us. These passions should be part of who we are, not who we are.

I think sometimes we need to remember to not let these completely things define us. I love running, but sometimes I know I take it too far.  I am not less of a runner if I sometimes run less than other times and my day is not ruined if I miss a run. I love healthy eating, but there is nothing wrong in not having a perfect diet all the time, that does not make me less of a healthy eater. And so on. And if I was not a runner, or did not love healthy eating, I would still be just as great of a person and just as worth everything.

Something that my yoga teacher said the other day that really resonated with me, is we are perfect as we are, faults and all, we do not need to change, or be better, or be faster, smarter, stronger, etc., we are truly perfect and beautiful just as we are.

Sometimes I think the perfectionist in me feels like I need to excel at everything, esp. my passions in order for me to consider it a passion. I love cooking, but you know what, half the time I bake something or make a complicated dinner it turns out amazing and the other half…ya..not so much. Let’s also say I have a couple burns on my hands to show that I have fought the kitchen…and the kitchen won a couple times, lol. Also, I run long distance, and I love that feeling, but I don’t have to compete in every race and I will most likely never win a marathon or be as fast as some other runners (hello crazy Kenyans…), and that’s ok, it can still be my passion even if I’m not number one at it.

Maybe part of what this is really about is needing to take it easy and be fully comfortable with who you are, I love the woman I am and am becoming with each day, but sometimes I feel the need to do more, be more, push it in the areas of my passions, even when I know it’s not the best. (Like in running for example, upping mileage when I’m tired and sore, etc.) I also think it is important to enjoy your passions without getting caught up in the competition or being the best or comparisions.

Sometimes I feel like every day, every week, every hour is slipping by so fast, I want to remember to live in the moment, to not let my passions become obsessions or define me, to delight in my passions and who I am, strengths and weaknesses, and to enjoy every moment.

I love this quote: “Happiness is not a brillant climax to years of grim struggle and anxiety. It is a long succession of little decisions simply to be happy in the moment.”

I think sometimes we need to be reminded that we are perfect as we are, and to revel in each and every moment and to enjoy our passions for ourselves.

And on a totally different note, I’m loving this quote by confucius right now too: “”It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”  You can bet I’ll be saying that a lot to myself during the RNR Marathon this month, lol. That and “Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming, Just Keeping Swimming, swimming, swimming…” (for those of you who are not geeky like me, that is from Finding Nemo) : )

What are your passions? Do you ever feel like you get caught up in comparisions or competition in your passions or the need to always excel?

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