Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Just Luck? Or is it Love?

The storm has passed, I'm home with power, not baking until later, and have lots of computer time.

So, I'm reading this article in CNN about a Microsoft executive who quit her job to join the circus. She couldn't stand one more meeting where people got yelled at, which isn't the exact problem I have with the corporate world. This lucky woman quit her job, discovered aerial arts (think Cirque de Soleil), and opened a studio where she has created not only a new creative career for herself, but also a little community of women who share her passion. If I had the guts, I'd quit my job and do something creative. Did she succeed by luck? That's what I need to know. If I saw a way out, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But do you SEE it and do it, or just DO it? She just did it. It's her life, and she did what she loved. I always tell my children to just do what they love. I have a good job, I do not loathe going to work, but is it what I want my life to be about? I have career goals I'm following and succeeding at, but is it passion? No. Do I need luck? No? I don't know!

Of course I'm going to bring this back around to the subject of my band. A friend asked me this week, if maybe I was successful with my band just because of luck? Maybe some people lose weight through WLS and others do not, by factors outside of their control? I'll admit I didn't see that question coming. My gut instinct is, no! I have put in reasonable effort. I've tried to approach this completely differently than any other weight loss I've had, because it would be silly to pursue this in a way I already knew didn't work. By band standards, I was a poor candidate for the lapband because I'm a grazer. I knew this pre-surgically, but felt I could make it work anyway. And I think 130 pounds lost is a band success. And not luck.

Can you guess where I'm going with this now? I lost weight because it's MY life, and I wanted to live it on MY terms. So, how do I do this in other areas of my life, specifically with my career? I've thought about this for a very long time, it's not just a fleeting fantasy. Would I fail if I wasn't lucky? Would it take luck to figure out what I would want to do? This aerial artist quit her job, THEN found her passion. I don't know if I'm confident enough, brave enough, fed up enough, lucky enough?

What does it take? I don't have words to describe how I worked with my band. If I did, I suppose I could write a book, and that could be my creative passion. I feel my band worked because of me, and not some random lucky force. I know everyone has a deep desire to have their bands work for them, so it's not just because I "wanted" it more than any one else. Does it have to do with love? Doing what I love for myself, approaching food in a way I never have before? Can I do what I love in all areas of my life? I had to dig deep inside for my band to work, it was not just external forces. I "want" to do this in a bigger way now. I don't know how, where, what, or when... but I do know why. For passion and love, not luck.

3 comments:

  1. Well said! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  2. I think the luck thing is almost exactly like the band.

    While the band makes it easier to lose weight, it is really up to you to jump on the weight loss band wagon and make the life changes that needed to come with it for the best success.

    Luck might put you in the right place at the right time, but it is still YOU to seize the moment and do something with it. Luck can expose you to something new that excites you, but it is still up to you to take it where you want it to go.

    I hope you have an amazing day today. I for one, and thankful that storm has passed!

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