Pursue a passion

I reckon one of the most said phrases in the world is “I don’t have time”. We are so busy as people. I pride myself with some pretty awesome time management skills, but I never feel 100% satisfied that I’ve got everything I need to get done, done. Why do we have so much to do? This seems to be a thing for youngsters too. My daughter is only in Year One but I’ve heard so many parents saying “Just wait until she gets into Year Two!” Toys, role play and colourful items start to leave the classrooms to be replaced by homework and lines of desks (I’ve got a whole blog planned for my feelings about desks!)

For me, education is essential. It fills up children like vessels with knowledge and the ability to memorise, moulding them into valuable members of our society. But it isn’t always completely fulfilling. It teaches more knowledge than skill. And for me fundamentally it doesn’t instil passion in our young people.

Where am I going with this? Well I believe, wholeheartedly that I could burst, children and adults need to find a passion in life, which fulfils them. My passion is performance. I try constantly to ensure I have a performance related project on the go almost all the time. Why? Because I love it, and when I love something, I put my energy into it. I am happier, more fulfilled and more connected to the important things in life.

This is why I believe so strongly, that children should go to after school clubs and weekend schools and courses. They should have other ‘families’, not just their own family and school community, as passions are often developed in organisations outside of school. And so importantly children (if they are lucky enough to find their passion) should not at any cost, give up their passion when life at school gets tough. More and more students taking GCSE’s and A Levels believe they should give up their passion because they don’t have time. No! That’s when they need it more than ever. The pressure of doing/achieving/working is so great on these young people, they need an outlet to express themselves, their emotions, through their passion. They shouldn’t become robots.

For me, finding your ‘thing’, your passion is necessary to living a fulfilling life, but only if it is kept up during the tough times, not just the good. Life is always better when you are pursuing a passion.