passion anyone?

i was looking through my brother-in-law's Facebook today and i saw a poster i really liked that he posted on his wall. it was a poster of New York city, interpreted in descriptive words that summed up what the city was about. The poster was created by Sophie Henson, a London-based illustrator and designer who is a member of several designer groups. it attracted me so much because a) it was New York and b) just how someone could be so imaginative to create an artwork out of words is just amazing to me. her blog writes about her passion in illustration and the people who inspire her. she showcases her incredible artwork as well, which i know will inspire many artists out there to think and design unconventionally. i've always believed that words are artwork as much as images are and Sophie has proven this theory of mine with her designs.

i have a lot of friends who are just as talented and as passionate about their illustrations. my sister, my brother-in-law, Govinda, Toting, Rocky, to mention a few, are all human pools of talent that i will never cease looking up to with awe. they live and breathe design and they have even made names for themselves in both the local and international design circuit. i am almost as proud to know them as they are of themselves.

the other day, Rory asked me what i collected. i said books. yes, books. whoop-de-doo. what kind of books? any kind. i've read practically every book i have at home, including the self-help ones my Dad used to collect. i've read books ranging from sappy to scary to analytical to biblical and yes, i've read the dictionary. that is when i made a realization that has saddened me to the core of my being. i have realized that i have no passion for anything.

well, maybe that's a bit too harsh on myself. if i wasn't passionate at all, i would suck at my job, probably even suck at life in general. i guess what i mean is, i don't seem to be passionate about ONE THING. some people are passionate about designing, or extreme sports or cars. some people ask, well, what about webdesign? that, i don't know. i thought i had gotten it back when i started Tummy Talk, but it seems i have lost the spark that ignited the flame. now all i seem to have is an empty pot. my dreams of travelling to Europe before i'm 30 are becoming just that: a dream. it seems amidst finding my direction in life, my soul has gotten lost. i haven't cooked anything in almost 4 months. that can't be passion. i used to make plans about travelling, but i have been in the same place for more than 6 months, the longest i've ever been in one place in almost 3 years. you know what they say that where your mole is on your body, that's what you most love to do? well, the mole on my sole is slowly fading. i can barely see it now.

the truth is, i do know what i love. i love to cook and i love to travel. my mom used to tell me i was a dreamer because i couldn't keep my feet on the ground. i love everything about travelling, even the long 18 hr flights that cramp up my legs and restrict blood circulation. i can always stand up and walk around. knowing you will be in a different place the next time you're on land makes it all worth it. and the food! nothing beats discovering a local delicacy. even if it takes you a couple of hours to understand the taste and a few trips to the washroom, it's the experience that can't be beat.

maybe that's what i'm passionate about. maybe experience is what drives me. i've always prided myself on trying anything once and i have never turned down anything juat as long as i know will not jeopardize my relationships, my health or my moral standards. so is it possible to be passionate about experience? i remember i've been asked so many times why i agree to do things that people normally don't do without getting paid for it. my answer has always been, I do it for experience. Experience is something you can learn lessons from and pass on to your kids. It is what makes you the person you are today and the person you can still become. Experience is what brings people together and makes us understand one another.

well, i guess that's it. that's what i'm passionate about. it's too bad i can't "design" experience, or "ride" experience or even "eat" experience. although... it could make a great book. wink*