Everyone has that one thing they absolutely love to do. It could be painting, sports, writing, anything. They've been doing it for years, they absolutely love it, they're known for it, and they can't imagine doing anything else. They might even want to make a career out of it.
All of a sudden, one day all of that love and freedom they felt is gone.
What they once loved to do suddenly becomes a chore. Their heart and soul isn't in it like it once was. There isn't any joy in it. They almost dread doing it.
There are many reasons for losing your passion. Maybe someone else ruined the fun, the environment wasn't positive, or the mind wandered to other things.
Whatever the reason, it's hard to give up something you've loved doing your whole life. For me it was dance. I've danced since I was four years old, that's 17 years.
I loved it, my life revolved around it. It was my personal freedom from the world. I was convinced I would be a professional dancer with New York City Ballet or Alvin Ailey.
All of a sudden I didn't want to do it anymore and I discovered there are a few things that happen when you give up your passion.
You feel empty inside.
If you've been doing something for many years and your life was dedicated to being the best that you possibly could be when it's gone what do you do? Life doesn't feel the same without it.
People start asking why.
As if you don't already feel terrible enough people start asking why you quit. "But you were so good at it!", "You need to keep doing it, you had so much talent!" Yes, I was good at it and I did have talent. But my heart isn't in it anymore and I have no desire to continue. Shouldn't that be enough?
You feel like you should be doing it.
With all of this sudden free time and pressure from other people, you feel like you need to keep doing it even if you don't want to. You start to second guess this decision you've made and think "I've been doing it this long, should I really quit now?"
You begin to accept the decision you've made.
The answer is yes, you should quit now. You take a step back and begin to assess every action and thought that brought you to this point and realize that it's a good thing that you've quit. There is no use continuing to do something that makes you unhappy no matter what anyone else thinks.
You begin to be much happier.
It's like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You have great memories and you wouldn't trade it for the world. In a lot of ways, it's shaped you into the person you are today. Now you're not stuck in this box of the past and you've likely found something that you love even more.
