Do you have a passion?

[Jerry1]

My new musical passion is classically trained sopranos and mezzosopranos singing stuff by 19th century composers, with just a piano or cello or flute or something for accompaniment. I used to be bored to death by this stuff, now I love it. Who knew?

Not exactly my type of music, but I like an artist that can actually sing. It is so silly to watch these artists that put out a great record but when they go on tour, I don't think they even sing live. Put an artist at the piano and sing me a song, and I enjoy that very much. Sarah McLachlan would be one very good example.

 

[Aerides]

I think the word "passion" is a bit loaded, and often used in quite hyperbolic ways in the US at least.

I like to ask the question more as "what do you most enjoy putting your time into?" (family doesn't count).

For me it's gardening, and my cats, but can vary.

Those of you up thread that mention having a narrow range of emotions - as long as that range isn't always negative, I think that you're quite lucky.

 

[Dawg52]

Being outdoors. That is what underpins most of my hobbies except cooking. Beekeeping, hunting, brewing, gardening, keeping quail, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. All those years in cubes in cites were pretty painful.

Same for me. Golf, walking the dog and biking does it for me.

 

[John Galt III]

Not exactly my type of music, but I like an artist that can actually sing. It is so silly to watch these artists that put out a great record but when they go on tour, I don't think they even sing live. Put an artist at the piano and sing me a song, and I enjoy that very much. Sarah McLachlan would be one very good example.

I enjoyed Sarah McLachlan a lot. A different style from classical, of course. Regarding live vs recorded music, I much prefer a live concert these days. Used to be, I preferred the recordings, since they were more technically 'perfect'. But after a great concert I don't even take home the free cd, since it wouldn't be the same at all, to me. I like the live connection to the performer.

 

[VanWinkle]

Golf, Gardening, and Grandkids fishing. Still pretty passionate about my DW also.

 

[48Fire]

I would say I am passionate about golf. I play regularly, watch on TV, go to tournaments, and just love to talk about it. Boring guy, I know

I was evaluating others, too, and baseball looks to be on the list. It's in my DNA. How many people stayed up until 2:00 last night to watch a game that they don't have a team in the game

 

[madsquopper]

You mean other than porn? In that case, ornamental gardening (especially for pollinators), nature/wildlife, dancing, and just being outside in nice weather.

Larry

 

[doneat54]

Been walking 10-12 mi/week since FIRE in January. Lost 12 lbs. Our 2 dogs love me. I am NEVER bored, in fact, sometime lack the energy to do what I want. Was passionate about a vintage car hobby/business, still am. #noboredomhere

 

[sengsational]

Passion is individualistic. It can energize us but also isolate us, because my passion isn't yours. By contrast, purpose is something people can share. It can knit groups together.

I'm reading the most recent Chip and Dan Heath book and figured I'd throw a little of what they had to say into this thread.

Apparently there's a guy, Morton Hansen, that figured out that purpose is more powerful than passion. So, if you find a way to "connect to meaning", you'll be reminded of your purpose.

To find your purpose, you must keep on asking yourself why you do what you do. Keep repeating the "why" until you reach the beneficiary of what you do. Who is getting the contribution you're making?

Does your passion have purpose?

 

[38Chevy454]

Absolutely passionate about my old vehicles and working on them. To my wife's frustration also increasing my collection of old vehicles. Also just like improving my knowledge with self-education about almost any topic I find interesting at the time. I like to be informed as much as possible.

 

[DAYDREAMER]

I've had many passionate hobbies that have gone to the wayside. I've realized it was the learning process that made me giddy. Once I learned all about the hobby, and perfected it, I would get bored. So, passion is a moving target for me. Current passion is making our home just like we want it. Lots of learning when you DIY!

I guess my new passion is to do projects to the absolute best of my ability. Sometimes I can't believe how good I can be!

 

[Redbugdave]

Being outdoors. That is what underpins most of my hobbies except cooking. Beekeeping, hunting, brewing, gardening, keeping quail, hiking, camping, fishing, etc. All those years in cubes in cites were pretty painful.

Brewer pretty much spelled it out for me, too. I feel like I am finally on the right path since I retired and got the job out of the way.

 

[street]

Anything in the outdoors >>> fishing, bow hunting and hiking/my ranch/building things and carving.

 

[sengsational]

I've had many passionate hobbies that have gone to the wayside. I've realized it was the learning process that made me giddy. Once I learned all about the hobby, and perfected it, I would get bored. So, passion is a moving target for me.

That's an interesting observation about yourself. I like that approach because it excuses your from "being wrong" about loving a hobby. You loved learning a new hobby...never claimed that the hobby itself was a thing in itself.

 

[FreeBear]

Absolutely passionate about my old vehicles and working on them. To my wife's frustration also increasing my collection of old vehicles. Also just like improving my knowledge with self-education about almost any topic I find interesting at the time. I like to be informed as much as possible.

+1

Well said! In FIRE, w*rk no longer interferes with what I want to learn, when I learn, and how I learn. A dream come true!

 

[nativenewenglander]

I've always been passionate about restoring antique buildings to their former glory. It's a rather expensive hobby, but there are three nice antique homes that have a new lease on life. I'm working on the forth and as my wife says and last. I have a decade to get it done and I'm in year three. Gardening, cycling, hiking, fly fishing and upland bird hunting are a few other hobbies. It's fun to read what others do as a passion in retirement.

 

[outdoorgirl02]

I've had many passionate hobbies that have gone to the wayside. I've realized it was the learning process that made me giddy. Once I learned all about the hobby, and perfected it, I would get bored. So, passion is a moving target for me.

This is me too. The learning and exploring is the most fun for me.

 

[Sunset]

I enjoyed Sarah McLachlan a lot. A different style from classical, of course. Regarding live vs recorded music, I much prefer a live concert these days. Used to be, I preferred the recordings, since they were more technically 'perfect'. But after a great concert I don't even take home the free cd, since it wouldn't be the same at all, to me. I like the live connection to the performer.

Unless they are lip-syncing the songs..... like Mariah-Carey, then it seems to be a rip-off considering the price charged for many concerts if you are simply going to be listening to a recording while they prance around pretending to sing.

Mariah Carey Suffers Epic Lip Sync Snafu on 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' | Hollywood Reporter

 

[harley]

To be fair, that wasn't really a concert. It was still a major embarrassment, though. I never expect the big name performers on awards shows/New Years/Super Bowl/special televised events to actually be performing. It's all to glitzy and choreographed. But a real concert with a real band, if it was discovered they were syncing to a recording, there would be a riot. That's why I like the jam bands. Can't sync to something that never gets played the same way twice.