Why following your passion is vital for optimum health.

Many years ago (I'm so tempted to say just a few years ago!), when I was just a wee lass studying in school, I was asked an interesting question by my literature teacher. Not just me of course, but my whole class. And yes I am still a wee lass, not too much has changed in the height department, however much has changed in almost all other departments!

Back to the question; we were asked what the difference was between the three words- surviving, existing, and living? It seemed just a case of semantics, perhaps each word could be use in different contexts. As I was explaining to one of my students the other day; we can derive the meaning of a word when we consider its context. Otherwise we would have to spend most of our waking hours learning new words! At that time I was just focused on analyzing the words for the purpose of the lesson. Not as a metaphor for life itself.

The fact that I still remember that question and the three words shows that I'm now looking at new contexts in which to explore the words. Are we just existing? Plodding along from day to day without a real reason or purpose for living? Or are we just surviving? Barely making it through from day to day? And this does not just imply financially; it could mean physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and in every area of our lives. Or are we really and truly living? Discovering and living out our purpose for being on his planet? I'm sure none of us believes we were accidents; even if we may profess and behave like it sometimes.

It may take some to discover what it is we are passionate about. Like myself for example. if you had asked me even as late as last year what my passion was, I would not have been able to answer. And honestly I was embarrassed. I just knew that from a very young age I wanted to help people. The only thing that remained was how. Now I would be able to tell you that I love writing, reading, meeting people from different cultures.

So its ok to take a little longer, because as long as we keep discovering what we are passionate about, we find out who we really are too. When we keep searching, we will find what we're looking for. The journey inwards can be one of the hardest ones to make, and yet the most rewarding. And when we find ourselves that's when we really, and truly start to live.