Good morning, dear one.
It’s a common refrain in my life for well-meaning friends to warn me about the need to slow down so I don’t burn out. In response, I almost always lean into an obscure quote I remember from a documentary I once watched about The Doors:
“You can’t burn out if you aren’t on fire.”
Thinking about it this morning, it reminds me of the old adage that tells us that if we love what we do, we’ll never work a day in our lives. That one never rang true for me, in fact I think it is the opposite of the truth. I’ve been lucky enough in my lifetime to love what I do for a pretty hefty portion of it, and in my experience, when I love what I do, I work harder; the fire of passion becomes fuel that propels me to go on.
Where is your fire? Maybe it is something related to your career (I hope so), or perhaps it’s a hobby. Maybe it’s something you’ve only let yourself think about from time-to-time because it’s silly, or you’re too old, or it isn’t practical. Fuck that!
Your passions are part of the fabric that makes you uniquely you. They don’t have to make sense on the surface as long as they light a fire within you. They don’t have to seem like the wise or responsible choice if they make you feel the fire in your belly. Marie Kondo instructs her clients to go through their belongings one-by-one to decide if each one ‘sparks joy’. The things that meet the criteria stay, while the things that don’t are sent away with love and appreciation.
Today, I challenge you to look deep into your life with an eye toward decluttering. But even more important, I want you to specifically look for the things that spark joy for you and lean into them. Sparks can only become fire if they are given fuel and air.
You deserve more than just existing; I want you to live. Give some fuel and air to the things you’re passionate about and you’ll feel them begin to truly burn within you. And never forget that I love you.
Love,
