Passion is defined as "any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling,, as love or hate." How many people do we know that love their work? Whenever I hear someone say they love their work, I pause and listen and take note because I think it is rare. It seems that many of us are put through education and forced to make this decision about what we want to do for the REST of our lives before we have a clue what that really is. So, we choose and are stuck there. For me, I decided to follow the two generations preceding me and my brother's path.. The law.
Now, there are things that I loved about practising law. Mainly, I loved the critical thinking and problem solving. I miss the thinking, analytical aspect of the law a LOT. Let's just say, my 2 and 4 year olds are not tapping into that part of me much, at all. But, there are many things I did not love about it, 24 hr on-call, pressure to bring in new work, mundane tasks that are part of the court "process." Did I ever get excited about my work, rarely, if ever.
It is for this reason that I am akinly aware of how blessed I am to be teaching group fitness. I love it. I love working directly with people on something so important and delicate as their health. Working towards health or maintaining health can be scary, exciting, and freeing for people. Each person I encounter has a different journey, a different reason for their journey, and a different end game in mind. While there are many differences in each student, the most beautiful thing to me is that we are all there together with a common goal and energy---to work our bodies and clear our minds. There in lies the amazing energy and high of group fitness. Walls come down, egos go away and this amazing safe environment is created.
I feel humbled and blessed everyday to lead people on their health journey. Students inspire me and motivate me to push in my instruction just as I hope to push them in their workouts.
So, I have concluded working in the fitness field is a passion for me. I finally know the deep satisfaction that can come from being able to pursue a passion and have it infiltrate your life. After this experience, it will be hard to settle for much less going forward.
It has been challenging to have such a drastic change in the framework/landscape of my life. Career oriented overachiever for over 10 years--to mother--to teaching group fitness. Part of me still gets in a panic that I should be back practising law and am not sufficient where I stand in the present. Part of me goes to the "what's next"/ live for tomorrow spiral of thinking. Maybe I will go back to law one day, maybe I won't. I just don't know the answers to questions about what my future to look like. I don't even know what I WANT it to look like. But, I have faith that with thoughtful actions and pursuing passions, one step at a time I'll get to that future... And it will be a good one. For now, the present, my goal for 2015, is to enjoy the beautiful life I have created and exist in!