Have you ever felt that something is missing?
It could be that little nagging feeling in the back of your mind or it could be a huge flashing sign beaming out in front of you.
Either way, the feeling is one of unease, discontent, even great frustration.
During the course of my life, this has been my background story. I studied art and painting thinking This is IT! I felt alone in the studio.
I became a certified life coach wanting to support people in living a richer life. I missed my art.
Deciding to combine my two loves, I sought to empower the impulse for creative expression in others.
Linda Hough [Visual Journal Page] 2015
Getting there but still, something was missing.
Last year, amongst the moving and shifting of the whole of my life, I found the missing piece. I shared with you in April about the liberating experience of process and paint that is visual journaling.
After months of working with this amazing tool, I can honestly declare THIS IS IT! I had the art and the coaching components in place. When I got to taking a good look at that nagging feeling in the back of my mind, I realized I’d left out one more very important piece.
Just a small sample of my personal library
My passion for books has always been alive and fueling me through the ups and downs of life. They were there when I was searching as a young girl. They were there when I was confused about relationships, in need of inspiration or longing to understand the big questions in life.
They were my friends, alongside of my real friends.
The most fun I had in art school was in book-making class.
How could I have left out my greatest passion?? Isn’t it obvious I’d want to incorporate books into my work when they play such an important part in my life?
Not really.
For one, I took this passion for granted. My love was always there in the background.
Like many great loves, books also became overwhelming. They take up space. (Yes, I have a Kindle but that’s a whole other story. It’s just not the same as a real book.)
And they call out for your attention. They want to be read. From time to time, I had to get some distance from them.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Passions are funny things.
We have a choice. We can embrace them or we can push them away. Sometimes we allow them a sneak peak.
Passions come with some big questions involving mostly time and money investment they don’t feel is practical
or purposeful. So they put theirs aside.
But real passion never actually goes away. If you aren’t expressing yours, it’s there waiting for your attention.
Now my days are filled with a deep feeling of home. Not only because I am back in France but also because I have found that thing that makes my heart very, very happy.
In these early days of 2015, instead of resolutions, make a commitment to explore, embrace or at least acknowledge your own passion.
You just may find your own missing peace. (not a typo ☺ )
Linda Hough [Visual Journal Page] 2015