I was having a "moment" the other day...and for the record, a "moment" is defined as: hot flash meets memory lapse. These moments usually generate a dual response: "holy s#@t, I'm 45 along with a mini epiphany of some sort. On this particular day, the "moment" inspired the question: "what cool and meaningful mission can I pursue when this 9 to 5 grind starts getting old?" I guess this can be paraphrased as "it's time to find a greater purpose" or "what should I be when I grow up?" At 45 - it's a valid question.
I'm sure that one day, I'll be hit head-on with a "vision". I'll understand my purpose - the meaning of life and the secrets of the universe...but by then it may be too late. So, I figured I ought to be a little bit more pro-active in finding something cool and meaningful to do later in life and I dug out a cool article that appealed to me several months ago. It was one of those intriguing pieces found in a magazine - and I knew that one day, in one "moment", I'd be inspired to do something with it.
The article suggested to write down three things you really enjoy - that DOES NOT include your kids, spouse or home. My instant response: "Food, Wine, Design". I stared at the page. I loved the catchy phrase but thought "how lame". There is no inherent purpose or depth in any of those things...but I was being honest. Now what? Write down three things you're good at. Hmmm: Writing - on some days. Training/Teaching - some people. Cooking - some foods. The final step was to try and link the three things that make you feel joy, relaxation and peacefulness (Food, Wine and Design) to the activities you're good at (Writing, Training, Cooking). The concept is to see on paper the perfect"marriage" of passion and proficiency - because that's the recipe for meaningful work!
What I saw on paper was, at first, very confusing. I'm supposed to cook, teach, or write about food, wine and design? That's meaningful?
After deeper thought, I realized that my happiest, most fulfilling careers involved writing for a design magazine and training for a world class interior design company. Inspiring people to surround themselves with beauty, and embrace life's simplest, yet finest pleasures brought me great joy. I wasn't saving lives, nor was I stressed by the need to. But every once in a while, I did strike a chord with a client, a reader or a design trainee; by helping them connect with life's sweetest offerings. I was on a mission to share my passion for simple abundance with the world. I'd stress the need for everyone to surround themselves with pretty things that have significance and that tell the story of a life well lived. I'd teach people to capture favourite memories and display them through pictures and objects. I'd write articles encouraging people to savour life's natural treasures; artfully prepared foods and finely aged wine; gorgeous tableware, delicate flowers, finely crafted fabrics of natural fibers; candlelight, fragrance and flavours.
I valued the chance to write and teach about special things that make the heart sing and the spirit soar: great style, great design, great food and great wine...and while none of these things will change the world - combined, they can inspire inner peace, raise money for greater causes and keep us grounded, by connecting us to our roots.
The mini-epiphany of the moment surfaces: perhaps the day will come - very soon - where "Food, Wine and Design" will be a column, a business, a website or a blog. I can't wait to see what the next "moment" will bring!
