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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Interview by Sher, Part 1 of 5

Sherrie, over at Sher the Love!, has sent me 5 questions for an interview-style tag.  She answered all of the questions she'd been asked in one fantastic post, but my editing skills are not so finely honed.  I will therefore complete this tag in five separate posts.  I first want to take a second to tell you all how much I adore Sher and her blog.  She's talented, open, honest, funny, and thought-provoking.  And those are all qualities of a blogger that really attract me.  This month she's been doing daily bucket-fillers, and she's done a fabulous job.  So go check her out, after you read and comment here, of course.



The first question is:  What is your life's passion?  Tell us about why, and how you came to love that thing.

This question intimidates me a little.  Especially because of who's asking it.  Sher has a passion for music and running and has accomplished much with both. 

I'm not certain that I have a life's passion.  Is that horrible of me?  I don't think I have the patience or focus for one.  Larry suggested that he was my passion.  True, I adore him.  But he got lots of bloggy love in my last post.  He then suggested that blogging was my passion.  Ugh.  I'm just not even going there with my ambivalence toward this enticing compulsion in which we all indulge.

As I thought, I decided that while I may not go so far as to label the following "passions" I certainly have a category of things that I really love.  I love the arts.  In nearly all of it's forms.  I figured out too late in college that humanities is the study of exactly that.  I would have minored in it.  

I love music.  I love listening, I love singing, I love playing the flute and the piano.  I'm not fabulous at any of it, but it makes me happy.  When I'm feeling discouraged, music lifts my spirits.   The iPod is one of the best technological advances ever.  It makes it so easy to listen to anything at any moment as the mood dictates.  I also love the Hymns.  The song of the righteous is a prayer unto God.  And I often communicate my feelings to my God best through song.

I love visual arts.  I love going to art museums.  I love the Impressionist movement particularly, but seeing anything is amazing. I also dabble in this.  I've been interested in paper cuts lately, and love to incorporate meaningful words where possible.  I paint a little and draw a little, and do calligraphy a little.  Again, I'm not brilliant at any of it, but I have fun.  I like to teach basic art lessons to elementary and middle school kids.  I had a great opportunity to learn to do this in the last community we lived in.  Here I've used this new skill to do some art projects with #3's school class, and they're hooked.  

Literature.  I love to read.  In fact, it's about time to pack up the books so that I won't be tempted as we try to move in the next week or so.  I love to write and you all see some of the products of that hobby here.  This post isn't my best sample, I fear.  It feels too much like a list.  I'm sure there is a way to improve on it.  I am also sure I don't really feel like figuring out what that is at the moment.

There was no big journey leading me to the arts that I can pin point.  I've been singing since I was two, making intricate construction paper masterpieces since not long after that.  As a teenager I listened to the Beatles and Pink Floyd and Bach and Handel.  My walls were plastered with Cassatt and Degas prints. (Though at age 12 it was kitties and Rick Springfield.)

I think that the arts speak to many, if not most, of us.  They touch our souls and evoke emotion.  So not only am I not quite passionate, I am also not original or unique.  But, like Popeye, I am what I am.  And aside from the occasional desire to be the master of one rather than a Jack of all trades, I'm happy with my interests and talents.  Maybe someday I'll find the desire to apply myself and find that passion.  In the mean time I'll go finish that grocery list that I started this morning, brush my teeth, and get to feeding my family.

Note:  Please be patient with me over the next few weeks as I visit your blogs a bit more sporadically than usual.  Once we're settled in the new house, I am sure I'll be back to my regular stalking habits.  Thanks, Mina

20 fishy comments:

Kristina P. said...

I've wondered where you've gone!

And I'm not sure if I'm really, truly passionate about anything. Reality TV?

Cajoh said...

I don't mind seeing a 5 part post. I myself have finally finished writing a 5 part post that I will start posting next week.

Love your passions. I think that anybody who loves the arts is in touch with their humanity. So often we try to be "smart" and show off what we know— but I love being "intelligent" where I integrate what I know with my being. I can tell that you do the same.

Great post. Can't wait to hear the other questions/answers.

Melanie Jacobson said...

I love the arts, too. The only art form I can't really wrap my brain around is opera. My husband and I try to take in one cultural arts activity each month and we're lucky to live in a place where they're easy to find. I think my favorite is ballet followed by the visual arts. I love the Impressionists, too.

Jillene said...

I don't think I am passionate about anything either. BUT I do love music too and I also love to read!!

Heatherlyn said...

I can really relate to your post. Especially when you said about your post "I'm sure there is a way to improve on it. I am also sure I don't really feel like figuring out what that is at the moment," because that's how I feel about almost everything I write, ever.

I can also completely relate with your entire last paragraph.

And I liked your sentence "I'm just not even going there with my ambivalence toward this enticing compulsion in which we all indulge."


What did you major in?

Anonymous said...

Psychology. It's a 34 credit major. I just took lots of 100 level classes to get the credits I needed to graduate. Econ, meteorology, art history, world civ, sociology, astromony. You get the picture.

rachel said...

Tony would approve your music choices :) This was a great question to answer because I feel the same way. If I had a huge passion in life I'm not sure how I would answer. Even my toddler is screaming "Elmo!" right this very moment, so that must be hers :) Good luck with the move!

Lisa said...

I used to be more passionate about those things. It's funny how interests change. They ebb and flow and until you've formed into a unique individual who is a culmination of your partner's hobbies/interests and your own.

Diane said...

I'm passionate about fashion. Not for me to wear, but fashion history, fabric, and dolls. I love keeping my hands busy making things.

Just SO said...

I'm with you. I'm not sure if I have a passion about something. And I too love the arts. Good luck with the move! I'd come and help you if I could.

blogismycopilot said...

First of all, good luck with the move, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Secondly, I'm really surprised at how many people have seconded your feelings that you don't have a particular "passion"...because it seems in all my blog stalking there are ALOT of passionate women around these parts!

Lara Neves said...

The arts is an excellent thing to be passionate about!

Good luck with everything...moving is no fun, but it will be great when it is all done!

And, opera is my favorite of all the arts. Just had to say that to balance out Melanie J.'s comment. Not enough people appreciate it. Sigh.

Heidi said...

Sounds like you are a bit of a renaissance woman!

Sher said...

This is why I love this interview tag, because we get to know so much more about you. I had no idea we had so much in common! loving the arts.
Except that I'm probably a little TOO passionate about too many things. I guess I'm just a passionate person.

Wendyburd1 said...

A TRUE passion? I am not sure I have one like that either. I love a lot of things, movies, making art, music, etc, but a true passion...hmm

mCat said...

So well done Mina! Loved getting to know you better part 1. Will be awaiting patiently for the next four to follow and good luck with the move and all the FUN that comes with that!
xoxoxo

Erin said...

I love many of these things too! Good luck with the move!

Jen said...

I KNOW you have many talents...like knitting! But being passionate about something is a hard one. I'm not passionate about one thing but the gospel. I totally agree with you, tho, music and arts speaks to each of our senses and can lead to great things. I wish I could have gone to the Seinfeld concert with you!!

Kelly said...

I wish I was more passionate about the arts, any form of it would improve me life. And what I am really passionate about I will definitely have to think about since nothing particular pops to mind.

Hope your move goes smoothly. I always think moving into a newly built house is more daunting then any other move. So many more choices to make. But what do I know we just move back and forth between our current house and apartments :)

Love part 1 and can't wait for the rest.

Rebecca Irvine said...

I love the arts too and am an art masterpiece teacher (volunteer) for the elementary school.