So, last week, when things started thawing out, I noticed an ad on Instagram with a super cute mug from Life is Good. I tried to resist, but resistance was in fact futile (shameless Star Trek reference). I decided that since our once in a decade winter was coming to an end, I needed a new mug to usher in a new, non-hypothermic era. That may sound a little over-dramatic, but you kind of had to be there. Just sayin’…
Anyway, allow me to introduce you to my new mug.
It’s very fitting actually. Hibiscuses, (hibisci? I’m not sure of the plural)… hibiscus flowers are some of my favorite. I actually planted several of them in my yard last spring and summer during the pandemic. My favorite garden store down in Galveston (shout out to Tom’s Thumb) had curbside pick up. So, I called and placed my order and then was able to pull up and pick up my plants. They did really well in my yard. Okay, well, they did really well in my yard up until last week. I’m pretty sure they are all dead now. They were in the ground. I covered them, but they weren’t meant to survive 13 degrees Fahrenheit. I have plumeria too, but most of them were still in pots, and I was able to bring them in, so they survived. As soon as it warms up, I am going to get more hibiscus plants, but this time, I am going to keep them in big pots for a while.
Back to my mug though… It’s perfect. It’s a happy coral color. It has a hibiscus flower on it, and the message just inside is perfect. “Do what you love. Love what you do.” This year, my plan is to do more of the things I love.
Adulting is a good thing, but it has to kept in check sometimes. I get so focused on paying bills and doing the adult things, that sometimes I find myself not wanting to step outside of my comfort zone because I don’t want to rock the adulting boat. It’s weird, but it is so easy to not do the things you love even if there is a chance you will earn more. A steady, dependable paycheck is a valuable thing- even if it isn’t particularly high. When you have things like mortgage payments and bills, it is really tempting (and sometimes smarter) to stay with a lower paying job that is dependable than to strike out and forge a new path. It’s kind of the modern version of finding the island of the lotus eaters. You get comfortable and maybe sometimes a little lazy. Doing something different is hard work, and there is no guarantee that you are going to make it and not lose your house- a pretty big deterrent.
This year, though, I am trying something different. I am still working my job, with no plans to quit at the moment, but I am also trying to get out of my comfort zone a little more. I started taking pictures for the orchestra at the school where I work. I love photography and writing, and I am doing both more this year. I could do either one of those full time and be perfectly happy, but I am not yet at the point where I could give up my day job without losing my house.
Anyway, I am going to take my new mug’s advice and do more of what I love this year. There is a quote (I believe by Ghandi) that says, “The things that excite you are not random. They are connected to your purpose.” I very much believe this to be true. Even if you don’t quite find your purpose, at least you can find some happiness to brighten your day as you work to keep your bills paid.
invisiblecompass 