"the mechanics of a work life involving imperfect people sometimes kills the passion I have for writing." Wow. Insert "music" or "teaching" instead of writing, and that's me, too. You captured that beautifully.

My husband didn't pursue a passion, but rather, a job he could do that pays well. He thought he didn't have a passion, but I found it years later - he's obsessed with weather and checks the radar multiple times a day. When I pointed it out, he agreed that would have been a cool career. Not as a TV personality (he's not a public speaker), but behind the scenes, collecting data and analyzing it. I feel like he missed his calling. But did he? Or is it better to keep our passions as hobbies, so we don't burn out on them? I honestly don't know, but when I look at my husband and me, I feel like we're equally frustrated with work sometimes, and equally happy at others, so maybe it doesn't matter. There's a reason they call it work.

Elycia, I sympathize. I've been practicing music lately that I'm not professionally obligated to learn, just because I've felt burned out on all the work, and it's been fun. Maybe you should enter a few contests or start a new blog. Just because. 💜

Cheers,
Michelle