I was on Facebook just a minute ago and a friend had posted a question "Do you do something you have a passion for?" I actually found myself saying "Yes!" In the past I may not have been able to say that, but I truly feel like I can now. And I can see myself doing it for years to come. And making money doing it. I'm talking about cake decorating. I JUST started learning cake decorating, but I have wanted to for years. I finally allowed myself to spend a little time and money doing something that I wanted to do, not because it was what I was "supposed to do" (aka college) or because it was something that I could make a lot of money doing. I graduated with an AS degree in December and after a much-needed break from the stress of school, I decided that I wanted to learn something new. So, I went online and looked for culinary arts schools, baking classes, and eventually realized that I only really cared about cake decorating, not all of the other things you learn in a culinary arts school. I also didn't want the stress of tuition, hours that I would have to have a babysitter, and more homework. So, I found a Wilton cake decorating class at Michael's. I started at the beginning of March, and have loved it. I have made lots of cakes, and learned a lot of new decorating techniques and been more creative than I ever thought possible. (I've never considered myself creative).
I realize that because this is new, it is exciting. It may not stay that way. I may get bored, like I did with knitting, pilates, green smoothies, etc. However, I don't think so. I've already felt the difficulty, the lack of creative spark, the achy hands and arms, the weariness of cleaning up after myself or just constantly having a messy kitchen, (Cake decorating is so messy!) and feeling like I will never get good enough to actually make money from it.
I've never felt the joy that I get from making and decorating cakes and giving them to other people. Actually, that's not true. There are a couple of other things that bring me the same joy, and I haven't grown bored of them, so I think I'm good. :) Those things are singing, playing the piano, and being a mom. Yes, I get tired of them occasionally. I go a month sometimes without playing the piano, and used to go even longer. My voice gets tired of singing. My body and mind get tired of being a mom. But I still have great passion for each of those things, and would be devastated if I had to give any of them up.
As I'm writing this, I realize that it wasn't that I didn't have passion for what I did before now, I just had forgotten what it felt like. I realized my passion for the piano when I was 11 or 12 years old, and singing only came a few years later. Motherhood has been a dream of mine since I was 5 years old. After 15+ years, I guess I forgot what it felt like to find something new that I truly LOVE doing.
My challenge to anyone who reads this is to find something you love doing and do it! If that means trying something that you've always wanted to try, but never found the time to do, then do it! If it means picking up an old hobby that you loved, but think you don't have the time for anymore, do it! If it means going back to school to get that degree that you never got, do it! If it means cuddling/playing with your baby/toddler/child/grandchild instead of folding the laundry or doing the dishes, do it! Whatever it means to you, find that passion for life and do something to bless your life, the lives of your family members, and those around you. You will not regret it! You may get frustrated and tired. You may find that you don't love the things you used to love. But really, you won't regret it!
If you want to check out my cakes, they are on Instagram and Facebook with this hashtag:
#kasgcakes
