To ask what, when & how you found your passion?

[Passionchaser]

NC for this.

I seem to have gotten myself into somewhat of a 'rut' recently. Or maybe I've been in it a while and only recently realising but I just don't feel I do anything for 'fun' and simple existing instead of actually living.

I wonder how people found their passions in life (if you have one) and what that passion is?

How do I find mine? Is a passion just something that makes you happy? If so then mine is cheese and red wine

So how did you find yours?

Hi
You can come and join us on the 'do something new everyday' thread over on the mental health boards. We do it to help keep depression at bay, but it's a great way of getting out of a rut.

The game is to do something however small that you've never done before (or not done since childhood but loved then) every single day.
Can be as simple as trying a new veg or fruit, walking down a new street, having a different coffee in a new cafe etc. There are loads of silly challenges you can do if you want . Long term, it opens you up to trying new stuff and through that you rekindle an enthusiasm for life.

It's helped me in the past.

I've always drawn. I now draw as a therapeutic release. I'm not good, but have developed a few styles which go down OK on instagram.

I'm mostly an avid reader and I adore my music. Something important to my love of music is now that I can ask Alexa to play music from a certain era or genre or whatever, and I get to hear something I hadn't heard before.

It's easy to lose oneself in life and forget what makes us tick as an individual.

I feel exactly the same. My OH has a few different hobbies, always has something to do or somewhere to go. I have nothing, no interests, I feel boring and would like to have a hobby, something thats mine. But the problem is, I have no idea, I read a list of hobbies from Google, not one jumped out to me!

Well if you like cheese, have you thought of doing a cheese making course.
Wine tasting course?
Is there anything you want to learn about? A language, pottery? A course on history.
Local WI.
Book club

The lists are endless. Or you could tag along with a friend to something you might not initially think you would like, just to see if you like it.

Have a look at the arts and do something creative. I watched a photography programme featuring some of the photography greats, which made me want to go and study photography full time. Haven't looked back! I absolutely love the feeling I get when I create something beautiful/with feeling.

Agree with PP about tagging along with a friend and trying out new things. I tagged along to a horse riding lesson, as someone else was going. Ended up making a career from working with horses, this is definitely my passion now, but I had no idea until I went for that first lesson

It's easy for me as I'm a music lover.
Violin and piano as a kid. Stopped violin as soon as got degree.
Picked up guitar at 30, started singing.
It's a fantastic hobby, music. Its spiritual, mathematical, absorbing, releasing.
Gigs are often mostly male so easy to meet men if you're ever single.
Theres a huge music scene in most places meaning group things, new friends, parties etc.
And there is the daily practice that gets your head off whatever has gone on in the day.

Some great suggestions here, thank you all.

something2say I have always loved the piano and a part of me goes somewhere else when I hear one being played. I've always toyed with the idea of looking into piano lessons but just never had the courage. I'm 34 now and feel it's maybe too late? I don't know. There are lots of teachers in my area though, maybe I should just bite the bullet?

Do it! Definitely pursue that, it will bring you so much joy and challenge

Mine is sewing. I liked textiles in school but wasn't very good. As an adult I bought myself a sewing machine as an impulse purchase.
Using patterns from etsy I now make clothes for my baby (more expensive and time consuming than just buying clothes though ) and lots of people have asked me to make something for their baby.

I have always wanted to learn the harp, since I was a child. I learned piano, cello, clarinet and recorder, but never harp.

I found a harp teacher last year and Iove it. It makes me happy, calms the stress, gives me something to focus on, keeps my brain working and sounds awesome. And I’m 10 years older than you are, so no you’re not too late! Find yourself a teacher and enjoy it :)

Definitely not too late to learn the piano, teachers often have daytime slots available as most people want after school. They like adult learners too as often more motivated because they are choosing themselves to do it. Don't be too hard on yourself to make rapid progress though, enjoy the journey!

It’s never too late for anything!!

Bite the bullet.

You'll look back later and realise how young 34 actually is. Not too late for anything.

OP - do learn the piano. Even at a basic level it always sounds gorgeous. And if you practise, you'll make progress. DS has reached grade 7 on only 30-40 mins practise a day in 7 years.

I’m learning this guitar, piano, Native American flute and singing lessons all from scratch and I’m 38 so you’re definitely not too late!

Mine is running. I started five years ago doing the couch to 5k, initially just to get a lot fitter and lose weight.

I grew to love it as it gives me time to think and time to myself, I find it very relaxing and also enjoy pushing myself

The best thing though is I joined a very friendly running club, which is also my social life and I made lots of friends through it. If I've entered a local race there is nearly always someone else from running club there.

I've been researching all morning and have found a couple of teachers in my area.

I'm going to go for it! Why not, eh?

Yay!! Go for it! Good luck.

I have my first lesson on Wednesday!

I can't actually believe I've done this!

Hello passionchaser that's wonderful news!! Have you got a piano then? And what sort of thing do you want to play?

I'd say, regarding practice, that at first (first few days and weeks), don't expect to make music yet. But do the exercises every day faithfully and just put one foot in front of the other. Soon enough, in 6 months, a year, you'll be playing real songs.

So pleased you decided to do it.

Tell us how it goes!! And good Lucy

Luck!! Even

something2say I've no idea what I think I'm doing, to be honest!

I know absolutely nothing about the piano, the keys, how to read the music, nothing. I just adore the sound and always have.

I suppose I just have to give it a go and have some patience. Quite nerve wracking though!

justbreathing Yes, I'll come back on, on Wednesday evening when I've had my first lesson. Probably crying inside

Good luck!

I fell into my passion and if you’d told me ten years ago I’d LOVE studying, researching and writing papers I’d have fallen about laughing. When I was 22 I wandered into an admin job in a University and as I worked my way up my employers nudged me back into education. I’ve found that I love academia, I’m now doing my Masters part-time and later this month I have a meeting with my new PhD supervisor I’ll be applying for funding with a view to jacking in my job and completing my doctorate full-time. I’m more excited than I’ve ever been in my professional life!