We all have a list of the things we need to do. Adulthood is full of them. Our days are full of work, chores, and responsibilities. What’s your passion? What fills you with joy and gives you purpose outside of normal day-to-day productivity? It’s time to give your passion the attention and purpose it deserves.

What is a passion?

dictionary.com defines passion as:

A strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything

The object of such a fondness or desire.

Your passion makes you tick outside of the everyday monotony. It does not need to be complicated. Your passion can be for books, movies, or music. In these cases, you are consuming media for your own enjoyment. We are lucky so many talented people in the world will share their gifts to bring others joy. Your passion can also be something you do, an action you perform. The list of passion projects ranges from gardening to sewing, painting to running. Your passion is limited only by your desire and your imagination.

Your passion is for you.

Passions, hobbies, and extracurricular activities are for the joy of the person performing them. No one needs to understand or agree with how you spend your time. My passion lies in all forms of creation. Everything from writing to photography, to cooking, gardening, and home design gives me purpose and joy. I have a lot of passion, but not enough time. Each season requires me to prioritize my time and energy.

In this season, I have combined several of my passions. I am a creator. This summer, I took my love of gardening and combined it with my need to create content and the result was articles on gardening tips and a shiny new YouTube channel dedicated to farm to table living. Learning new photography and videography techniques, sharing things I’ve learned in the garden and kitchen, and watching it all unfold into something to share with the world is more fun than I imagined.

No side hustle required!

Today everything leans towards monetization. Everyone’s first question–Can you make money doing XYZ? Your passion need not become a side job. Pure enjoyment is a valid reason to do something. Even something that other people may monetize can be done for fun. Your passion does not need to become your job! If you like to knit, do it. It is unnecessary to start an Etsy shop for your end products. You can knit because you love to knit. Full stop. No other explanation or energy required.

Do it on purpose.

Find the activity that makes you happy and do it on purpose. Carve out some time once a week for your passion. If once a week seems too hard, then try once a month. Play the piano. Write the book. Plant beautiful flowers. Paint. Read. Sing. Choose your passion and do it with enthusiasm. Life is about more than work. Have fun. Enjoy!