When you saw that this was entitled "Fire and Fury", you were probably thinking that I had written a post about the recently released book about the Trump Whitehouse. That is not at all what this is about since I have not yet read it and I am #176 on the reserve list at the library.
Today I am writing to you about finding your own personal fire and fury...also known as your PASSION . It is often said that if you find your passion, you will be truly happy and incredibly fulfilled . I would agree with that, but an even more important fact is that passionate people are healthier and live longer . If you are passionate enough about something that it brings out the fury buried deep inside of you, you will be energized to live your life to the fullest.
Have you ever seen the romantic-comedy movie "Fever Pitch" starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon? It may come as no surprise that it is one of my family's favorites since it is all about the lead character Ben's intense passion for the Boston Red Sox. It is a great movie and there are a lot of entertaining scenes, including the movie's conclusion which highlights the Red Sox's 2004 World Series Championship win. The scene that has always stood out in my mind is the one when Ben is confronted by his girlfriend Lindsey (played by Drew Barrymore), about his obsession with the Red Sox. Ben explains his life-long love affair with his beloved baseball team by asking Lindsey "Do you still care about anything you cared about 23 years ago? How about 10? How about five? Name me a single thing that you’ve cared about for 23 years."
I was unable to find the scene that I mentioned...but this one also captures Ben's passion and fire for his team.
How would you answer that very poignant question if someone asked you? Have you ever known that kind of passion? I have seen first-hand the love and passion that someone can have for the Red Sox. I have lived with it for the 23 years that I have been married. My husband has been committed to the Sox as long as he can remember. Like other life-long fans, he has seen them through good times and bad and his passion has never waned. I have witnessed some other really impressive examples of passion in action ...
One perfect example is my wonderful sister Michele and brother-in-law Kevin who are extremely passionate about Bruce Springsteen and have recently seen their 47th concert together! Their love for ‘The Boss’ was one of the things that brought them together when they first met and they are mega-fans whose commitment to their passion includes traveling cross country to see him in concert. They generously share their passion with others which is great because it makes me feel like I am along for the wonderful ride.
My dear friend Esperandieu is so passionate about his home country of Haiti that he lived out his dream of starting an orphanage after the 2010 earthquake ravaged his country. His fury over what happened to the beloved people of his country inspired him into action and he hasn't slowed down for even one minute of the past eight years. He passionately raises funds to support the orphanage and he works tirelessly to improve the kids’ lives. Thanks to his "fire and fury" for the children, the orphanage continues to grow and the boys and girls who live there are happy, healthy, thriving and doing incredibly well in school.
My sweet friend and neighbor Barbara (who sadly passed away 2 1/2 years ago) was a very passionate and talented crafter. She taught crafting classes, collected the very best supplies and she made countless afghans, many of which she donated to charities in need. Barbara was known for her beautiful paper creations and gorgeous crocheted Granny Square blankets and she touched many people with her beautiful work. Her passion was a large part of her life and she was surrounded by many friends who shared the same creativity and fire. Anyone lucky enough to have one of Barbara's beautiful masterpieces has been witness to this passion, one which now lives on as her legacy.
So what are you passionate about? I’m not talking about a passing interest or a casual hobby. True passion is having something that captures your heart and your spirit. It ignites your imagination and fills you with energy. It becomes something you are unable to set aside and makes you excited as soon as you wake up in the morning.
Have you been struggling to figure out what your life passion might be? As frustrating as it may be to search for and not find your passion, it would be extremely sad to delay your happiness until you discover what fires you up. You will be both happier and healthier if you make the decision to enjoy your life and savor everything you are doing along the path to finding your passion.
If you are looking for ways to open the doors to inspiration that will lead you to your passion, you don't need to look any further than your own health and well-being . If you have been feeling as if you have nothing to be passionate about, I am guessing that there is a chance you may also be neglecting your physical well-being. Now would be a great time to reignite your commitment to yourself. You can find a new fitness routine...something you have always wanted to try or you think may be fun. Perhaps you can experiment with new recipes or try some healthy foods that you have been curious about. If you decide to take up something new, you will probably not be alone sinceJanuary is the time when most people are inspired to reinvent themselves . If you start a new sport or activity, you will likely meet people, make friends and you may even be inspired by their passion.
How will working on your health help you to find what will fire you up? When you take care of yourself and feel great physically, you will also feel better mentally and emotionally . You will get in the right frame of mind to discover what your true fire and fury really are. You will be inspired and become inspiring. So go find your passion and do magnificent things! You may even end up like Ben in "Fever Pitch" and love your new passion for the next 23 years.
Need help finding your passion and purpose or getting your health on track? Contact me for a complimentary Health Coaching session at MariaPatrickHealthCoach.com