I am a scientist by day but after a long bout of career angst, I found I am currently passionate about restoration efforts with native plants. I can spend hours doing the actual work and and an equal amount of time learning about it. If only I had a way to monetize this!

I've always been passionate about language, and I went to school in journalism. But I was a SAHM, too, and when I was able to return to work, I needed to have a schedule that worked with my children's, so I started subbing at school. I returned to school to get certified to teach ELA and became a reading teacher. Right now I am working with younger grade levels so I can work in my children's district, but I very much prefer older kids and will likely move on when my last child graduates.

It isn't a "passion" - almost no student is into Latin roots, etymology, and parts of speech - and I could spend all day, every day, with my nose buried in books in a musty old library. But I do enjoy it.

Passion is over rated...l majored in poly sci because politics was my passion, only to find out that how the system actually works, and working in government killed my passion...and i think there are many many people who say the same thing. and here’s the thing, i took a stop gap job in retail, only to find out that i am passionate about growing a business, I’m passionate about figuring out how to make the most of a situation, how to chase into what the customer wants and how to figure out how to get out what they don’t. I’m passionate about training and developing others to do the same.....what i sell I’m not passionate about at all
TG i guess this is a long way of saying, it sounds like what you are passionate about is getting and keeping organized...this alone is an excellent foundation. I know that in my company we have some entry level jobs that are less that 40 hours a week that really only require that the person who does them be organized and willing to learn. Some people use these jobs to learn about other jobs in the company and move on, and for some they are happy doing that job. You might want to look around for a job like these in a company that you feel is worthy of working for. Then you can decide what you want to do.

I've had lots of passions - there are some consistent themes throughout what I've been interested in, and what I've gotten paid for, like language, new ideas, improving processes, etc., but I'm the kind of person who is interested in all kinds of things and tends to have an interest for a few years until it fades to the background in favor of something else for a while.

I have this maybe weird or cynical idea at this point in my life that young people and career changers should start with the most practical items that they want in a job: what do you have to wear? what are the hours? what kind of people will you be dealing with all day? how much further training/school would you need if any, and how practical is that given your life? what kind of risks are you able to take in order to try this path? And slowly work your way back from concrete to more abstract, rather than starting with something like what are you passionate about.

I am awfully late to this but it's been such an interesting discussion. I hope the varied responses have helped to clarify things for you, Helena -- you have so many gifts and talents, as Angie pointed out. I'm sure you will find the path. It's just especially difficult in this time. Or maybe not. Your daughter's school situation seems like a big sign from the universe that you are currently most needed precisely where you most want to be.

Like Janet, the activities and pursuits that absorb me most deeply have been consistent throughout my life. Reading, writing (as soon as I could), making art (not that I do that any more), walking, biking, skating, cooking. On a more cerebral level, I've always been interested in and deeply curious about human psychology, some aspects of science (esp. biology), urban ecologies and urban planning, architecture, politics, ethics, questions of social justice.

In fact, if I have a passion, it is probably for learning. That's what the skills finder test tells me, anyway. I love love love love love to learn.

That said, I tend to agree with Rachylou that "passion" is overrated, and I almost feel the word has become a kind of cudgel. I mean, how many people, realistically, get to "follow their passion" to a meaningful and moneymaking career? Or even one of the above? The idea that we should do so, or that if we chase our passion, our lives will magically become perfect, is one of those pernicious neo-capitalist myths whose effect is to make us feel bad about ourselves and "less than" all the apparently perfect SM influencers.

Anyway. I'm a writer but I do not make money from it. My most recent royalty statement was, I kid you not, $10.57. I do make a living, sort of, from the cognate fields of part-time teaching of writing and contract editing, manuscript consultations, etc. And scholarship.

And even though I would not say I am passionate about it, that work, too, is meaningful to me. As Cardiff Girl's said of herself, I've learned through experience that my work must feel meaningful to me or I won't be happy. I need to feel I'm contributing to others . In fact, I left my better paying full time job at the fitness company partly for that reason; the work didn't align closely enough with my values.

Anyway, this is all about me, not you, but what I think I'm saying is: Try not to beat yourself up if you don't feel you have a passion. You are doing meaningful work right now with your kids. In a year or two, things may change. In the meantime, you might study something that interests you or volunteer for an organization that aligns with your values. And go from there.

I also really like Rachy's point that it's important to know if you can stand the real conditions of a line of work. Interests are one thing -- the job itself might be different. But sometimes we can't guess that in advance -- we only find out by doing.

Passion.

I’m a Taurus my passion is food dancing and writing and traveling

Anything that makes my heart explode

Basically my career funds my lifestyle and I’m okay with that. I’m good at my job at it has kept clothes on my back and food on our table.

This is an interesting topic, and something I have thought about at various points in my life, particularly when facing some sort of decision as to how to focus my time. In my mind having a skill or facility with something is very different than counting that ability as a passion. For example, I am an excellent swimmer. However swimming is not my passion. However, I have found things related to swimming that I felt passionate about. I enjoyed teaching and coaching. I enjoyed the friends I made as a lifeguard. I enjoyed the members of my swim team. I liked competition and working hard to become better at something. I enjoyed a challenge. I like being physically fit.

Suz and Rachy’s remarks about the gap that may exist between the job and the passion are so true. When I first gave up my career as a publications designer, to pursue photography, the assumption was that I would make money by doing some assignment work. I did some, and I’m ok at it, but it was most definitely not the type of photography I loved doing. That kind of photography turned my passion into just another way to generate income by using my talents but not really with the creative outlet I craved.

Also, I love music and enjoyed working part time as a radio DJ for the better part of three decades. But I never made the shift to that as a full-time career because it’s not my passion — the hours are weird, it’s low-paying (unless you make it to the big markets), etc. The reality of the job was not enough to make me want to jump all the way in. I actually decided that same thing about pursuing law school and a career in law many years ago too. I always loved the idea of studying law and getting that degree, but after talking to some people i knew who had the degrees but didn’t practice, I realized the reality of that career was not for me.

There are so many paths, and I agree 1000% with all of Suz’s remarks. I love learning, too, and I would be a perennial student if it were feasible.

A little sideways from the passion topic, but something I recently read on the subject of happiness.

https://www.brainpickings.org/.....64eeffad34

The new Pixar movie ‘Soul’, available to stream on Disney+, has some themes relevant to this discussion. My 15 year old also declared it a ‘really good movie’, which is always a win.

Thanks for the link cjh.

TG you have a great and useful skill set that could be put to use in many different roles. You are so good with people, I can see you in a HR role. Can you describe what a 'perfect' job for you would be?
- What hours do you want to work?
- What skills do you want to use?
- Do you want to work from home or get out of the house?
- What salary are you looking for?

I found my career goals changed immensely once I had my son. I was once told by a mentor that I could 'have it all, but just probably not all at the same time'. That has been very true for me, I have sought out roles that meet most of my needs. Six years ago I changed roles, earning half of what I had previously earned to upskill and build my CV. It was a move I am happy I made as it has revitalised my career and given me more career options.

If your husband is very career focused then having you to deal with the daily household, child and pet management helps him out more than you could ever imagine.

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't been responding but I'm so appreciative of everyone's wisdom and journeys - thank you.

Bijou, I am going to do exactly what you suggest - really clearly define what the right job would look like for me - and I suspect it will have much more to do with how it impacts my family life than the content of the job itself. You also reminded me of another really good point - when times are normal and DH is travelling on the fly, out at evening events, etc., my role as holding down the fort is far more clear and obvious than it is when he's WFH ... but this is not a forever situation, so I have to bear that in mind.

Jules, I just watched it and thought of this discussion right away ... it was 1000% on point for what I am going through ... also a good cry never does any harm

cjh, will read that article today!

And Suz and Janet, I could definitely be a lifelong student too, if it paid!

Thank you so much EVERYONE - read and valued every comment xoxo