The day my husband came home from his first day of Nursing school was one of the happiest moments I had ever seen him.  Truly, his excitement was equal to that of the expressions I saw on his face when our children were born.  I couldn’t believe what a difference one day at school had made.  He had found his niche; his passion.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I envied him in that very moment.

The memory of his joy on that day has led me to support him in career choices that weren’t the direction a wife might encourage her husband to go.  Today was the third time that I happily supported my husband in following his passion before following the money.  It’s odd to me how at peace I feel when such a decision is made.

Our family’s future is temporarily less stable than it would have been had he accepted a Nursing Management position.  Yet, here I sit typing about how happy I am that my husband is following his passion.  A happy dad is a happy family.  I’ve heard that term be used for moms in the past.  I believe a happy dad is just as critical to the family unit as a happy mom.

I still envy his level of passion.  I have an invested interest in a lot of things, but I’m not certain I would call it passion.  Can you learn to become more passionate?  I haven’t seen any self-help books on that topic as of yet.  I have seen my fair share on distorted thinking though.  I’m pretty sure envying ones passion and feeling like a failure because you don’t have passion like that is on the list of distorted thoughts.  In fact, I know it is.

We all have our strengths and our weaknesses.  None of us are an all-or-nothing individual.  My husband is passionate.  I admire that.  His passion inspires me, as I’m sure attributes of me might inspire him.

I recently had a discussion with a woman who I look to for guidance and encouragement.  I’ve been open and honest with her about my insecurities and my feelings of inadequacy.  I’ve expressed to her how I feel like I don’t have a talent to share.  She, in her ever positive way, pointed out all the goodness in me.  I responded, quite typically, with all the negative in me.  She then shared with me what seems like such a simple thought but I never processed it, I guess.

She asked me whether or not I would even enjoy those talents that others had.  Take sewing for instance.  I can’t sew for the life of me.  I wish I could.  I am amazed at what people can create with some cloth, thread, and their imagination.  But, truth be told, I don’t enjoy doing it.  So, why be sad that I can’t sew?  Why not nourish the talents I do have and actually enjoy doing?

I imagine that is how I’ll find my passion.  I’ll focus on the things I naturally enjoy and nurture those gifts.  Instead of longing to be a sewer, I’ll leave the sewing to the seamstresses of the world.  I have gifts and talents, whether they be big or small.  Thanks to my friend, I’m learning to embrace those parts of me rather than feeling remorse over what I don’t excel at or enjoy.

And, thanks to my husband, I’m learning how a life of passion is worth its weight in gold.