Here we are, the end of another busy crazy week, and seems like 4 day work weeks are always longer than "normal weeks". Dave has been busy dropping me off at work, and driving up to take care of our lovely Banyan , starting the winterization process, definitely a huge learning curve as the boat is new to us, and well, 10 feet longer makes for a lot MORE STUFF to take care of, all of it, much heavier, as his poor achey screaming muscles are telling him at the end of the day. I am sure that YOGA tomorrow will alleviate some pain (but quite possibly add some too).

We were at our class night, learning all about waves, and frequencies and bands. I find myself really enjoying this (despite the huge learn to learn learning curve that we as adult learners need to get our heads wrapped around ?) and last night's lecture was enjoyable, specifically because the teacher didn't read from the book/presentation, interjected a bit of history in there to explain where some concepts came from, and well, that's always a great way to present a subject.

He is quite passionate about being a hammy and has been doing this for 50 years (WOW !!). He mentionned how he loved meeting people via the radio waves all over the world (might this be the FIRST version of what we now call Facebook ha ha ?), and especially loved hearing what drives the people he meets, what motivates them, what makes them do what they do. And he looked at us and said "what's your passion ?".

That firmly resonated with me as I have always thought myself rather unlucky as I never could figure out my passion... I did not have a goal, a clear objective or a driving passion to DO one thing with my life, and always kind of felt like I was "left behind" or "floundering" as a result. Don't get me wrong, I love what I did, I love what I do, I had certain objectives and goals, and fulfilled them and of which I am now extremely proud, but I cannot say I have a passion for any ONE thing.

And then there is my penchant for all things spiritual... I believe that actions speak louder than words. Anyone can talk the talk, but can you walk your talk ?? (See below one of my favourite poems by Oriah, that concisely puts into words what I believe.)

Anyhow, I digress. As I sat there in class the question of "what is YOUR passion" once again resonated deep within me, and for the first time, ever, I kind of grinned as I suddenly realized something... I do have a passion... I FINALLY came up with an answer that satisfied me, my passion is and has always been, and I think will always be : "to explore, to discover and to learn". I am very curious by nature, about people, about things, about places, about stuff...

Dave has a passion for all things boat related, for sailling, obviously. For techno related things. Although I dare say that as I look back on the stories he tells me of his younger days, I think the crux of it all is that he enjoys learning as well... sailling had nothing to do with his learning to be a race car driver, or getting his pilot's license, and now he's conquering the waterways, a natural-born sailor... what's next for him I wonder ?

So, what is YOUR passion ?? Do you LIVE it ??
Do you WALK your TALK, or do you just TALK the TALK ?

Passion or no passion, it don't matter really... I think it's just as important to put LOVE (a derivative of passion) into EVERYTHING you do :)

Live and LOVE your moment !
Hugs, Alex.


The Invitation (by: Oriah)

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon... I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy mine or your own if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful to be realistic to remember the imitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes."

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.