[ladyatakari]

Hey all,

I'm curious to know if you know anyone that's really passionate about what they're doing. Like, they really love what they do and are happy doing it. Are these people rare? Have I just been blind? Do you know their story, and if so, what is it?

I'm asking this because as a student surrounded by so many others that seem to fill into a mold...I wonder if I'm missing something in this puzzle we call life.

[x0ny]

I don't think it's super rare but I don't think it's common either. Once in a while I'll see a businessmen or a CS major that really love what they are doing. Perhaps even just for a few years, it's nice to see when people enjoy their job. I for one hate it when people are working at a place they don't like or doing it just because they feel like they have to. Their attitude always brings things down. I work in a restaurant and you can really distiguish there, most of the people in the front of the house (servers,bussers) they do it for the money, always complaining about their job and always laze around. Where as those in the back of the house (chef,cooks) we really like the job and care for everything, even though we get paid scraps compare to the front. All of us in the back, we all just like cooking all of our life, and we all share that I guess.

I think it's just where you look, I notice mostly that those in a trade type job are more passionate then those doing say business or something. I could be wrong.

[gummybummy]

I really envy people who are passionate about what they are doing in life. But as life is, most people go to work for the purpose of bringing home a paycheck at the end of the week. I saw an episode on Oprah, where they were saying that almost 80 % of the working people did not like their current job. Imagine that, 80%, so it is likely that the majority of us will go through life being merely satisfied or disliking the work we do.

[derrek]

I'm glad there's 80% of you doing all that stuff, without you the 20% of us would have to do it too! haha

*Edit: I can't imagine not being as passionate as I am. I guess I'm either lucky or cursed (because it can make life a lot harder, but more enjoyable). I refuse to end up being anything but what I desire. I only live once, and I'd rather die trying

[HERMIT]

I saw an episode on Oprah, where they were saying that almost 80 % of the working people did not like their current job.

My gosh, I don't know what's more disturbing: that 80% of our work force hate their jobs or the fact that 1 out of 5 people work in porn.

[PaNgIeE]

I have a brother-in-law who's a programmer and love his work. He enjoys going to work and reading on stuff for work. YUCK! LOL! I think you can enjoy it but at the same time don't make forget your other priorities at home. Leave work at work if you don't have to bring it home. That's the only thing my brother-in-law does. He needs to realize that once he leaves the office then he has other responsibilites at home -- eg. family Some people love their work too much they neglect their other responsibilites. Not me...once I leave work I don't want to think about it though I enjoy it.

[OiOi]

myself...

I work in the hotel industry and always had a passion for customer service. I think this is what made me stand out from everyone else in my department. Passion.

[squishybear]

All my professors are so passionate about what they study. It inspires me... sometimes.

[terrorist]

Ah, my passion for working in the medical field is becoming true. lols
Most important serving God 24/7 is my biggest passion..


but let me tell you what i saw in mcdonalds
a grand piano

can you believe a grand piano inside mcdonalds?
behind it was a African American playing
like 100 different songs from his memory, didn't even have a single score.

he played songs from beauty and the beast
to Beethoven. and some other jazz pieces

First i didn't realize it, but i knew why he had passion.
his face expression, his bliss, graceful happiness that he showed while playing.

also, won't you get somewhat embarrassed playing inside mcdonalds..?
but he didn't care about what others thought of him. he just kept playing and playing.

[HERMIT]

^
Damn, that sure as hell outclasses the hell out of me and my feeble attempts to win free Super Sized french fries with my horrendous rubber band banjo rendition of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song.

[JDMz]

The most passionate people I have met were people who treat me with respect. There is no feeling that is as good as having respect. I have to deal with people that look down on Asians everyday and it feels so much better when one of them come up to me, smile, and say hi.

[switchlanez]

I met E-40 at the airport once and I think he's one passionate dude. Humble too.

[suki_*]

I think that the most passionate ppl are the ones who succeed in what they do and enjoy what they do everyday~ whether it be their profession or their hobby, it shows that they have the patience, the tolerance, the experience that one had to go through to be who they are today. These people live life humbly and down to earth and treat people with the same level of respect with everyone else. They don't judge what class you are, they don't judge what what socioeconomic background you come from, they talk to everyone on the same level.

I even find conversations with them inspiring because you can feel their passion in whatever they talk about so that in turn also encourages me to be in that place some day too

[masturyan]

I have a friend who's an apprentice to become a welder. He's pretty passionate about his work and would rather skip holidays and work instead. It's kind of rare to find that, because I don't know anyone else who would do that...

[xcherriex]

I'm only half happy about what I'm doing right now since I'm only doing it part-time. But once I finish school (the unhappy part) and I start working full-time, I think I'll be able to come back to this post and say that I'm wholeheartedly passionate and happy doing what I do.

[SongBird]

I have a question for you guys.

Have any of you regretted your undergrad choices? Did it lead you to where you wanted to go? Or did you choose a graduate program that is totally different from your undergrad choice?

I have two friends, one went into business management (wanted to travel around the world doing business) and the other life science (wanted to become a doctor). After doing their 4 years, the business management guy wants to go into medicine and the life science guy wants teach music now.

When I worked in restaurants. I loved cooking and making people happy. I always stood out from my co-workers with my attitude/work ethic and thus I always got promoted. It wasn't just a job for me. Passion really keeps you going and I can't imagine working anywhere without having it. Money is important, but I need more than that to go work everyday. Now I am back in school to polish/refine my passion.

[namu_29]

Off the top pf my head, unfortunately, I can't think of anyone I know that I've seen to be truly passionate. Though admittedly, I don't know many people.

As for my self though....I haven't 'found' my passion in the sense that I'm not at the point in my life where I can immerse myself in it. I have this love for architecture that I never wholly realized until little things started adding up and now I constantly notice that buildings of all shapes/sizes/backgrounds...constantly catch my eye and hold my interest. I went to London for few weeks and all of my pictures wound up being of structures and their details. Same when I went to India and now I notice in Korea as well.

I feel a bit out of place at times when I stand in a group and everyone's looking at the rest of the surroundings while I'm looking at the buildings =p. I'm still a student working to pay for college courses that will hopefully get me into architecture, but once I get to that and am able to surround myself with the area more completely, I'm hoping I'll have found my passion

P.S. I suck with words so that might sound lame =p

[Temoin la Nuit]

I think most people around me don't enjoy what they do. It's for a paycheck, at the end of the day.. whether that paycheck is big or small, it just allows you to maintain your current lifestyle unless you have a dream.

I'm pretty sure the number is more like 1 in 10 that enjoys what they do. But you still have to eat, so it's better to have a job you don't enjoy than no job at all.

I don't regret what I studied though.. I make good coin, and I viciously underspend my salary, so my standard of living doesn't go up, and I can save money for my goal.

[Eso]

It seems like the majority of the responses here are focused on careers. But what if you flip it around? I think that the 80% that hate their jobs might have some passion for some other area, such as a hobby or past-time. Even if it's something that wouldn't help pay the mortgage, it's still something they're passionate about.

I think if you put it that way, it seems that the career is in the way. lol

As for me, I'm passionate about several things. Hobby-wise, I absolutely love pen spinning and have dedicated 3 years of my life to this. Career-wise, I haven't found my calling yet. Though I do imagine being a teacher or professor in languages would give me the most joy.

[baoi]

I want to go back to school. I am on coop right now. it sucks. the experience is amazing, but writing up flyers/brochures is not my thing. this experience has definitely showed me a side of Marketing I am not very fond of.