July 15, 2007

Well yes, you're right. I did make some assumptions about where you were ‘coming from'. Given the sparseness of info provided, I had to make some assumptions, but I realize now I should have begun asking questions first to qualify the origin of your questions. So let me begin with an apology for jumping in nose-first.

I think that finding one's passion - meaning what stirs your soul so deeply that at the end of your life, looking back, you will be certain that the activity was your version of living fully, in fact, made your life fulfilling - I think finding that is very difficult. Most people don't even think of such things; it just never enters their mind. Few look for it; and a precious few find it and achieve it. So you get 2 points from me right off for just asking seriously the question.

My poorly-stated point about the media was that it pulls us away from that center within us that already knows where our passion lies. The issue isn't happiness, I think, but contentment, which is a different goal. The media don't push it because if we were ever to achieve it, we would spend less money. Does that makes sense?

I'm old enough to be able to give you some advice, but what you're seeking is so fundamental that it's hard to describe. Let me just say that I have found that spending a few weeks being very observant of things around you; and then reflecting on WHAT HAS CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION - that method seems to reveal to ourselves more about where our inner passions lie than anything else.

Alcuin