Passionate is one of those overused words, like love. Well, at least that's how I feel. I hear a lot of people at work say they are passionate about something. Usually it is in reference to business or consumer package goods. It makes me want to throw up. How can you be passionate about TV commercials or selling consumer goods? Maybe it's just that I'm not...at all.
I'm lucky to have a job that I enjoy at some times and tolerate at others, pays well and gives me lots of opportunities. But I'm not passionate about it. I only reserve that word for things that really matter: God, family, friends, helping others. I would almost go so far as to say I'm passionate about music. But since I wouldn't say it's significant in the grand scheme of the world maybe I just like it a lot. I realize I'm probably being too strict in my application in rebellion to the liberal usage.
More to the point, hearing others refer to being passionate about work makes me wonder if everyone can find a job they are passionate about. Is it reasonable to expect to find a job you are passionate about, even according to a looser definition of the word? Certainly everyone doesn't but is that because they don't look for it or because it's not always possible?
I hope I'm not being idealistic but I like to think it's possible.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
passionate
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3 comments:
*sigh* I hope so.
I am passionate about writing and editing and generally the type of work I do and the potential it has to touch lives. Especially when I hear back from someone who read an article and was encouraged to act on his/her relationship with God. And I felt a part of it by choosing the article, working with the author, and making sure it got in print. I'm just a piece of the puzzle, but it's neat to hear an end "result."
Right now I'm going through a funk where I'm not passionate. And it's not the work but the situation and the little things that bug about workplaces and company hierarchy and corporate America!
But I guess it's pretty good that, after being at a place for 9.5 years that I can say I've had my funks but I can also recall passion.
But in those funks I wonder the same thing: are we supposed to love our job or just do it because we have to? Can it be both? Perhaps we get glimpses!
I think it's totally possible...it just happens at different times for different people. And Eric's new job has taught both of us that sometimes we have to do things we're not passionate about in order to prepare us for something we can be passionate about. :-)
I love my job, but I'm not passionate about it every day...some days are like that...some weeks are like that. And I think that's probably true for just about anyone in any job.
Can't wait to see you soon!
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