Passion Over Pay

What if all your expenses were paid, you had plenty for the extras like travel, and could do anything you wanted to do?

I ask because many of my friends are retiring or trying to. It doesn't stick very well for most. They have to find something else to do, and it’s not often about money.

 It's because we as humans want purpose and meaning and to contribute to others. 

This morning I talked about this with my personal trainer, Kyle, who is in his late 30s with a wife, two young sons, and seven acres of land. He said if he won the lottery, he'd farm, take care of the kids and the domestic duties. His wife loves to work, he loves to farm and cook, so that would be his ideal.

I am not stopping work, but am reshaping my activities so they fit me and my time of life better. And I am shifting to consider work as a contribution rather than a “have to”. 

As in, “what can I contribute today?” 

I realized today that I also would like to go back to my roots of being an environmental activist. You don't get paid much in that field, but the passion and the mission are so compelling that it propels you forward in work that can be difficult.

It's good to have a vision! What's yours when you don't have to work for money?