Finding Purpose When it’s Past Midnight

“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.”
― Buddha

January has been buzzing by all too quickly. I hope everyone has been feeling well both mentally and physically, Covid or no Covid!

It’s very easy to be motivated when the clock strikes midnight on January 1, the symbolic start of a New Year when fresh hopes and dreams surface like shark fins in the water (weird metaphor, but it just came to me, so I’m going with it!). As I have written this month about selecting a word to encompass your year, as well as crafting a Vision Board, my focus has been on helping readers create a plan for a fun and productive 2022. Perhaps I might be a bit paradoxical when I say that I love new beginnings though my favorite season is Autumn when the leaves fall. Go figure.

As the month, and year progresses, however, it is too easy to slip back into the same old same old. The routine of chores, responsibilities, work, and day to day demands can often take up more time than we anticipate, leaving us too tired to pursue what we truly love. And then there are the important shows on Netflix and Apple TV to catch up on! (I’m currently on a Downton Abbey phase!) One thing I learned through an online course I recently took is that carving out as little as 30 minutes a week to pursue meaningful goals can lead to a happier life! Yes, you read that right — just 30 minutes a week! That’s one fourth of an episode of The Bachelor…and even less than a load of laundry in the dryer. The point is that those 30 minutes send a clear message to your authentic self that “I see you. I hear you. You matter.” Even if you are an introvert/hermit/loner, your authentic self without a doubt loves to be acknowledged on the center stage of your life. Basically, your authentic self says: Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my closeup! (Any Sunset Boulevard fans out there?)

Unfortunately, a lot of people have become so busy or distracted that they have forgotten what it is that brings them that sense of purpose outside of their daily minutiae. People are confused and with that confusion, is inaction. By the time they are home from work and have cleaned out three litter boxes (ok, that’s moi we’re talking about) they might not have the energy to spend time pursuing interests or remembering what those interests actually are!

As the Buddha’s quote above mentions, actually finding our purpose is a purpose in and of itself. I have been on a mission to clarify my purpose for quite awhile now. I think being willing to try new things without worrying about whether they are right or wrong has been a huge boost to me. In the past, I would weigh my options so much that I would be paralyzed. The one and only thing I can say for sure is that we shouldn’t have to know all the right answers. Being playful, experimental, curious, maybe even a little weird might be the way to find our truest passions and interests.

Some days I simply spend time doing things just because they make me happy. Like spending time with my husband in our garden. Or taking a walk on the Paseos that are my blog’s namesake. Reading a good book, dabbling in a new recipe, decluttering my closet are all favorite pastimes. Look at how a passion for decluttering led to Marie Kondo’s super career!

I will also admit rather sheepishly that I also enjoy spending time on Instagram. Believe it or not, I actually have learned about myself on this website. Case in point, one of my favorite sites, @lifeatnumberten (Alison Byrne) is about an Irish woman who loves decorating and cooking. She is a consummate housemaker. Byrne posts regularly about her menu, decorating choices, walks along the Irish coast and through forests…all with a warmth and sense of humor…and her cute animals in tow. Her home is historical and cozy. Here is a picture of her kitchen with her dog Scamp. Her site has inspired me in numerous ways; but it is her humor and sweet nature that have made me a fan.

Social Media, which many consider the Devil, can be useful at least to discover your interests. If you’re not fighting with family or friends, it can be a tool to learn about what stirs your heart. Also, it is good to monitor the time you spend on social media. Scrolling can be super addictive and can be unhealthy if overdone. That being said, this past year I have realized that I absolutely LOVE these things: books, vintage linens, the Cotswolds, castles in Scotland, artfully prepared food, and cats dressed in cute outfits baking cookies. Don’t judge me. If you want to see for yourself…

https://www.instagram.com/princesshoneybelle/

The good news is that we can explore to our hearts content to find our purpose. That same course I took gave me a link to a website (that’s legit) where you take a survey of your strengths. The results might surprise you. After my survey, I discovered my strengths are Love, Gratitude, Humor, Leadership and Perspective. Applying those strengths to my writing gives me purpose. I think, lol. Here is a link to the website where you can take your own survey.

https://www.viacharacter.org/

Books and books have been written on the subject of finding purpose, so I am not even scratching the surface, I am brushing the two inch thick dust off of the paper cover! I am groping my way in the dark and hoping to find a lighthouse on the horizon. Apparently, however, according to the course I just took, most people discover their true purpose by continually trying different activities. It is not through an epiphany like many of us might have believed. So if you have a little voice telling you to volunteer at a hospital, animal shelter or garden, go for it! Take that cooking class you have dreamt about! Buy that book or two you have been eyeing at the cool, independently owned bookstore downtown. Be playful and curious. Go skiing! Go to Paris! Take dance lessons! Clean cat litter boxes! Oh….strike that last one. If you take the survey above, please let me know what you find out about your strengths! May you find your lighthouse!

Wishing you a positively fabulous finish to January! Next month I will delve into love (one of my strengths), romance, and maybe a recipe or two.

If you are feeling generous and want to contribute to my writing career, donations are warmly accepted. This is a new concept for me…but this year my goal is to be a “paid” writer.