I wish more people cared about pursuing passion and happiness, or the benefit of what they do in service to others. The world would be a better, kinder place. It's so lucky for your child that you are doing this work now, laying the foundation for the values you want to teach. You got this.
you hit the nail on the head... through community and serving others, and even more powerful, PROACTIVELY ENGAGING with it always bring me back to center. Thanks for sharing this post :) (I'm also curious to what artist you wanted to be!!)
Thanks for reading, Jason! I'm reminded of our podcast conversation where you explained how you don’t just say that it's important to you to prioritize relationships, you work hard to take actions that support this daily.
Really appreciate this post! There's so much here though just a few reactions I had:
1) So interesting the pursuit of money - I feel like there's something to be said here about capitalism and how many people are literally forced to pursue money to survive. And at the end of the day in the system we're in we still need money to survive even if we are pursuing something we're passionate about.
2) I think there's something to be said about how one can pursue both things at once. I feel like you can both pursue a passionate career and one that has some stable income... though at the same time I think it says a lot about our society and what we value that a corporate job pays more than a job that involves helping people, especially helping people in ways that are perceived as "feminine" (e.g., counseling, teaching). Femmephobia strikes again, gr.
3) On a random note, for me, I felt like I *had* to pursue something I was passionate about, or I'd literally die. It's a privilege that I've been able to do so though because of my trauma, I felt my connection to my career of choice so strongly it felt like it chose me.
4) I think it's never too late to pursue the life someone wants, whether that's a certain career, starting or ending a relationship, pursuing a new hobby, etc. I'm proud of you for making this choice. Please keep writing!
Thank you so much for reading and for your encouragement, Thomas!
1) I've always felt so conflicted by my personal pursuit of money - yes, life is expensive and we need money to live - but even with a financial cushion, I never thought it was possible to prioritize passion over money/stability.
2) I agree that you can have both (passion and money/stability). It also sickens me that I made so much more doing purposeless work for corporations. I wish our government subsidized higher education for those pursuing helping careers that require master's degrees.
"Passion jobs are often but not always dominated by women, in part because many of them are in “caring” fields where there’s a historic expectation that people (read: women) would and should do this work for free. Alternately, the industry or organization built itself on the free labor of bourgeois married women, so when it did start paying people, there was an understanding that their employees would 1) have a second salary supporting them and/or 2) come from a modicum of wealth, which meant the organization could get away with paying very, very little."
3) It has taken me years to realize what you always knew - I have to pursue something I'm passionate about, or I will slowly die! We only get one life!
4) Totally agree that it's never too late. Lori Gottlieb was a big inspiration for me. She had a very meandering career path before becoming a therapist. Am I jealous of people like you, who always knew? Yes but I needed to learn on my own time and I'm making peace with the timing of my life.
The way I have been able to pursue my passions instead of large amounts of money is having no idea how to do the latter haha.
But also for the same reason as you - the excruciating feeling of working toward something that is not in line with my highest calling and the longing of my soul. I just can't.
And now, my passion fails me - an unexpected eviction notice in a complicated situation closes my business permanently. No certainty for what's next - simply the knowledge that I was born to be a singer, and that is the only option for what can fill the gap.
I'm so proud of you for resisting the scripts and pre-worn pathways of our deeply problematic, abusive, and corrupt society. It takes a lot of resilience to do that. OWN IT. I THINK YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
I'm so upset to hear about your business closing - that is terrible news! I'm sorry friend. I feel you on the "no certainty for what's next" but am inspired by your truth (born to be a singer - you certainly were!)
Thank you, Sara!! I'm proud of you too - you are such an inspiration for me! I ALSO THINK YOU ARE AMAZING <3333
I wish more people cared about pursuing passion and happiness, or the benefit of what they do in service to others. The world would be a better, kinder place. It's so lucky for your child that you are doing this work now, laying the foundation for the values you want to teach. You got this.
I've always been amazed by people like you, who always knew they wanted to help others and never wavered. Such an impressive level of self-trust!
Or perhaps dumb luck. :) Lucky me to be born into a family crazy enough that I knew I needed to be emotionally healthy and grounded.
Haha! I still think it's the former...
you hit the nail on the head... through community and serving others, and even more powerful, PROACTIVELY ENGAGING with it always bring me back to center. Thanks for sharing this post :) (I'm also curious to what artist you wanted to be!!)
Thanks for reading, Jason! I'm reminded of our podcast conversation where you explained how you don’t just say that it's important to you to prioritize relationships, you work hard to take actions that support this daily.
Really appreciate this post! There's so much here though just a few reactions I had:
1) So interesting the pursuit of money - I feel like there's something to be said here about capitalism and how many people are literally forced to pursue money to survive. And at the end of the day in the system we're in we still need money to survive even if we are pursuing something we're passionate about.
2) I think there's something to be said about how one can pursue both things at once. I feel like you can both pursue a passionate career and one that has some stable income... though at the same time I think it says a lot about our society and what we value that a corporate job pays more than a job that involves helping people, especially helping people in ways that are perceived as "feminine" (e.g., counseling, teaching). Femmephobia strikes again, gr.
3) On a random note, for me, I felt like I *had* to pursue something I was passionate about, or I'd literally die. It's a privilege that I've been able to do so though because of my trauma, I felt my connection to my career of choice so strongly it felt like it chose me.
4) I think it's never too late to pursue the life someone wants, whether that's a certain career, starting or ending a relationship, pursuing a new hobby, etc. I'm proud of you for making this choice. Please keep writing!
Thank you so much for reading and for your encouragement, Thomas!
1) I've always felt so conflicted by my personal pursuit of money - yes, life is expensive and we need money to live - but even with a financial cushion, I never thought it was possible to prioritize passion over money/stability.
2) I agree that you can have both (passion and money/stability). It also sickens me that I made so much more doing purposeless work for corporations. I wish our government subsidized higher education for those pursuing helping careers that require master's degrees.
You might enjoy Anne Helen Petersen's article on this topic (https://annehelen.substack.com/p/when-your-profession-is-on-fire)
"Passion jobs are often but not always dominated by women, in part because many of them are in “caring” fields where there’s a historic expectation that people (read: women) would and should do this work for free. Alternately, the industry or organization built itself on the free labor of bourgeois married women, so when it did start paying people, there was an understanding that their employees would 1) have a second salary supporting them and/or 2) come from a modicum of wealth, which meant the organization could get away with paying very, very little."
3) It has taken me years to realize what you always knew - I have to pursue something I'm passionate about, or I will slowly die! We only get one life!
4) Totally agree that it's never too late. Lori Gottlieb was a big inspiration for me. She had a very meandering career path before becoming a therapist. Am I jealous of people like you, who always knew? Yes but I needed to learn on my own time and I'm making peace with the timing of my life.
The way I have been able to pursue my passions instead of large amounts of money is having no idea how to do the latter haha.
But also for the same reason as you - the excruciating feeling of working toward something that is not in line with my highest calling and the longing of my soul. I just can't.
And now, my passion fails me - an unexpected eviction notice in a complicated situation closes my business permanently. No certainty for what's next - simply the knowledge that I was born to be a singer, and that is the only option for what can fill the gap.
I'm so proud of you for resisting the scripts and pre-worn pathways of our deeply problematic, abusive, and corrupt society. It takes a lot of resilience to do that. OWN IT. I THINK YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
lol to your first sentence!
I'm so upset to hear about your business closing - that is terrible news! I'm sorry friend. I feel you on the "no certainty for what's next" but am inspired by your truth (born to be a singer - you certainly were!)
Thank you, Sara!! I'm proud of you too - you are such an inspiration for me! I ALSO THINK YOU ARE AMAZING <3333