Is Everyone Doing What They Love?

The answer to this question is: a lot more than you think. I've talked before about growing up in the Midwest, in a suburban haven of safe productivity, of success defined by landing an "office" job. But as I keep working toward my goal, however much I'm stabbing in the dark--and I am, I'm realizing that surrounding me everywhere are the products of someone's labor of love. 


We make a huge deal about "following your dreams" because it's scary and it's hard and maybe we didn't know people growing up who followed theirs; or maybe we know someone who did and "failed." It is a risk, to be sure. It can put off personal relationships and it can destroy them, too. And every time someone goes a different way than their tribe they risk ostracism, which is horrifying. They will absolutely meet with loved ones who smile and nod and friends who "just don't understand." But you should always remember that if you choose this path you are not alone. You are surrounded by labors of love and risk-takers.


For example, the ongoing commitment to improve medical care, the thousands of years that doctors have put into experimenting (not always in the best ways) to find a cure, find a treatment were all endeavors of obsession. Every invention, every single one, involved a prototype and the commitment to research and plan and try to make it perfect and figure out a way to get it into your hands and your life. Even accidental inventions had a long way to go before they became a post-it note or a tub of Play-Doh. Every film you watch, whether fantastic or awful, was someone putting their ideas and their heart and their dreams on the line. Every book that fills every book store and every library was written and published by a risk-taker. Whether it's a biography, a work of fiction, a best seller or something that sold six copies; it doesn't matter. We take for granted the work, dedication, commitment and ability to overcome fear that makes our lives more enjoyable, more worth living. And these are just the broadest of instances. Someone invented your favorite flavor of ice cream. There's a woman in Dexter, MI who owns a store that sells nothing but buttons. Local crafters and sewers reap the benefit of her risk to open up that shop.


So is everyone doing what they love? A lot more than you think, in all sorts of ways.