What's passion?

This time of year I get to do a lot of things that I don't normally incorporate into my life. Usually because they involve being awake and alert past 9 pm.

Last night I went to see the Victoria Symphony and a pianist named Andre Laplante. I have seen him before, and I will gladly see him again. I do like classical music, and music in general, but I see him not just for his musical talent. You see, Andre is a bit of a hero to me. I have no desire to be a concert pianist; I don't play piano; and I can't name or recognize very many classical works. But Andre is living the life that I believe we are all meant to live: he is living his life's work.

I have never witnessed anyone more passionate, more absorbed and more happy than this amazing man. His hair is white and long... kind of like what you would expect of an eccentric genius. He pulls it back in a pony tail; but by the time his performance is over, it is unkempt and dishevelled, falling in his face. Nothing could look more perfect or natural. While he is playing, his face is a mix of pure joy, concentration and wrapture. He is absolutely consumed by the utter joy of playing. And the audience is absolutely consumed by the awe of this spectacle. I honestly think it wouldn't matter what he was playing, because it is in the 'how' that his message is communicated.

I got thinking last night because of this; it kept me up, and it woke me up after I fell asleep. In my life, I measure success not by dollars in a bank account, nor wins on a scorecard, or by how many people like me. I measure success by how I sleep at night, because when I am living my life as closely aligned to my passions as I can, I sleep really well. Yes, sometimes aspects of our lives that are beyond our control interefere with this. I believe we need to accept those circumstances and not use them as excuses, instead recognizing the control we do have and excercising that to fullfill our life's work, closely aligning it with what makes us passionate.

I learned a long time ago that what makes me passionate is not likely to make me wealthy; but it will lead to a richer life than a life lived in the pursuit of material excess to satisfy the emptiness that is caused by living a life that is not led by my passions.

It took me some time to figure out what my life's work is. I have also learned that this evolves over time. In learning to accept that, and to reflect on it, I have learned that a night's sleep interupted by thought can occasionally be a grand thing. Last night served as a reminder that I need to re-adjust my path again towards my goal of recognizing my life's work and living it. And so it is.