Some people like to complain a lot. They complain about their jobs or about how much they have to do. They say that they have no choice; but it has been said that we always have a choice. Sometimes that choice is simply accepting what is, if we cannot change or leave a situation. Mostly, our choices are of a mental nature. We get to choose how we want to think about something – choose whether or not a given situation is going to make us happy – or unhappy.
There is another kind of choosing that we do. We make those choices every moment of every day. These choices are often influenced by our motivation. If we need to make money to pay our rent, we choose to go to work even if we dislike our job. During our “free” time, we may choose to procrastinate. We may choose to watch television or play a game or read a book because it distracts us from those things that we may not feel like doing – like cleaning out a closet or a refrigerator, or washing the dishes.These distractions are born out of frustration if we cannot do what we would rather be doing. We all have a tendency to do those things that we either enjoy doing or at least do not mind doing, and putting off the things we clearly dislike doing. We often “should on” ourselves when we feel guilty for not doing something that we feel we should have done.
It is also said that when we do what we love, the money will follow. I believe this, at least in part. I have always felt that life is too short to waste time doing something that does not satisfy who we really are. Doing what we love will not necessarily make us rich, but it will ensure that we always have enough and we will have a greater sense of peace. I always felt like an imposter if I attempted to work at a job that did not really suit me. Society has convinced people that you must work at a job in order to make a great deal of money, regardless of whether it is something that fulfills you.
I have realized that I have three great passions in life – gardening, caring for wildlife and my cat – and writing. For the past 50 years, I have found that what I would almost always rather be doing, is gardening. I find myself subconsciously tending to my houseplants or wandering out into the garden, even when I have more important things to do. I am always poking my finger into soil to see if plants need water, or stooping to pull a weed, or trimming and deadheading spent flowers or leaves. I have to check myself when I am tempted to pull a weed in a public place. Regardless of those things that I have put off doing, I find that when I am working outside in my garden, starting seeds, transplanting, or simply watering plants, I am completely content and at peace. It takes some people years to discover what their real passions are and to honor the gifts that are innate within them. Paying attention to what we would rather be doing is key to our personal happiness.
