As a child, I had many hopes and dreams that shaped my younger years. I remember vividly wanting to be an archaeologist and, at one point, a mailman. I was full of passion for everything that was put in front of me. I wanted to pursue as many opportunities I possibly could. Sadly, as I have grown up, I have lost this passionate side of me. I don't strive to fill the mailboxes of America or discover the next cool dinosaur. I do like money, though, that can't really count as a passion unless being a millionaire is an acceptable occupation.
Often, we get caught up in the day-to-day boring aspects of life and lose sight of the bigger picture. We do what we're told and stay in our comfort zones for fear of getting ridiculed by society. We don't take risks and have one track minds because we need to get from one paycheck to the next. Passion gets shelved up next to those old hopes and dreams, and we've got to find a way to reach it and dust it off.
Losing that childhood passion is unfortunate because it's quite honestly an important aspect of one's personality. Passion is what makes people actually interesting. Being passionate means you have opinions on things and have a variety of possible hobbies. With this arsenal of personality aspects, you're sure to impress the masses.
How can we get back this important part of what defines us? I think it comes with time and allowing yourself to do things because you enjoy them, not because you have to. Don't take a class because it is what is expected of you. Do it because you desire to learn more about the subject and want to further pursue it. Don't do hobbies because they give you a certain image; do them because they excite you or challenge you. Passion comes with allowing yourself to fully understand who you are and what you desire. Give yourself opportunities to learn more about who you are, away from external factors, such as money or societal pressures.
Personally, I have allowed myself to take a wide variety of classes this year to find what suits my personality and what doesn't. Unlike a majority of people I have talked to, I seem to have a passion for history and cultures. I used to enjoy math and science, but they never gave me that excited, bubbly feeling I get when I learn about history. Knowing yourself and how you react to people and activities is important for learning what you truly enjoy. Take the time out of your day to pursue hobbies and work that suits you and what you love to do.
