We had a Group Therapy letter this week that really had me thinking about the rat race we are all in and just how necessary it really is after all. In the letter, a woman named Jen wrote that her husband had decided to switch occupations after spending 15 years as an accountant. Suddenly, he had decided he wanted to work in a golf course pro shop. She was shocked by the radical switch, while he was ecstatic. He took the leap and followed his passion to explore a new life in what is now being coined an "encore" profession.
That got me thinking about the many people I know who are existing day to day and not really living, mostly because they can't stand their jobs. They resent their situations but are bound by the fear of the unknown, and stay in zombie-like states because they don't have the confidence to pursue the "encore" job. True, it just may not be a practical move for many and it may seem reckless to some, but what a liberating feeling that must have been for Jen's husband. Imagine getting off the treadmill to nowhere to begin strolling down a path toward living passionately each and every day.
I am not complaining for myself. I am actually lucky that I have been able to make a pseudo-career out of my pseudo-passion. But, if there came a time in my life that swinging my legs out of bed at 3 AM was not worth it anymore, I would hope I would have the courage to let go of my material ways and tap into an even deeper passion to find an even deeper happiness. Scary? Sure! But I would love to see what a well-rested Shawn looked like in the mirror! It couldn't be any worse than this particular morning! Ha!
