Finding Your Passion When You Feel Trapped Under The Sea

This post was inspired by Trapped Under the Sea by Neil Swidey. In Boston, five men were sent into a dark, airless, miles-long tunnel below the ocean to do a nearly impossible job that would help clean the once dirtiest harbor in America. Join From Left to Write on February 19th as we discuss Trapped Under the Sea As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Finding your passion isn’t as easy as celebrities suggest it is.

As you move along the journey of life, you realize that everyone who is giving you advice knows what is best for them. {That’s why they don’t eat salt, don’t have credit cards, and don’t have pets. Whatever their issues are, don’t make them yours!} There is a good change that many of you didn’t wake up one day dreaming of becoming an accountants, marketers, or teachers. Heck, I’d be willing to say that some of you didn’t want to attend college, but did it because that’s what you do.

So, you keep on keeping on until you simply can’t do it any longer. You feel like life is being sucked right out of you each time you dress for work. Sundays are filled with anxiety of what Monday could bring. How can you go to work for five consecutive days without making yourself crazy? Maybe you’re lucky enough to be hit with a layoff {like me!} or a relocation for a partner’s career. Or maybe, the boss sees the writing on the wall and fires you for lack of performance. Either way, it’s finally over.

Now that it’s over, what happens next?

A lot of nothing. If you’re not planning your exit from your career {like me!}, then you’re not prepared for what to do next.

After my layoff, I wasn’t sure what I would do. But I knew that it wasn’t going to involve working for someone else. After being home for a few weeks, I started writing this blog. I had no idea at the time, that it would turn into something that I feel so passionate about. Who knew that buying a simple domain would be the gateway to so much laughter, fun, and tears {yes, there IS crying in blogging!}?

Building a business is not for the faint of heart. There is no money to be made right away {sorry!}. There is no team of people to help you do the things you don’t like {anyone want to track my expenses?!}, you’re on your own.

And it is hard.

But it is worth it.

I’ve always been a lover of letters, words, books, reading, and writing. Looking back on things, it’s no surprise that my passion for these things would lead me to the business of writing and creating handpainted typography signs.

When your passion found you, did you recognize it right away? Are you still searching for your passion?