I have always thought you needed passion to be good at something, that passion drove you. I would say that I am passionate about photography and writing, but that depends on the day, my mood, the weather, etc. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, in a conversation with Oprah sums it up perfectly "Passion is rare; passion is a one-night-stand. Passion is hot, it burns. Everyday you can't access that." This is certainly true for me, I will write one good story and then not write anything mildly good for another two weeks. Or for many weeks I won't even pick up my camera, but then I will take one trip to the country have some good barn finds and be head over heels again.
So I have a fickle passion for photography and writing, but what about all the other things I love? I can't have passion for them all. That is where curiosity comes into the picture. Without curiosity I would have nothing to photograph or write about. Curiosity is the subject finder.
So I sat down and made a list of things I am curious about:
- History
- Old Buildings
- Barns
- Travel and Exploring
- Aston Martin cars
- Ireland
- The Mystery Machine
Aston Martin Car - I saw a car that looked like an Aston Martin while we were walking. I don't know anything about the car other than it has appeared in James Bond films. Yet I was curious about it, I love old cars, especially to photograph, so I did a little research when I got home from the walk.
Founded in 1913 by Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin as Bamford & Martin LTD, the company has developed into an iconic brand synonymous with luxury and elegance. 1914 saw the birth of the name 'Aston Martin' following one of Lionel Martin's successful runs at the Aston Hill Climb in Buckinghamshire, England. Within a year the first Aston Martin had been built and registered with the name, and an icon of the automotive world was born.
source: astonmartin.com
The firm became associated with luxury grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and with the fictional character James Bond following his use of the DB5 model in the 1964 film Goldfinger.
source: Wikipedia
Ireland - A girl I follow on Instagram @local_milk has been in Ireland the last week and has been posting wonderfully tempting photos. Every place she went intrigued me and made me want to be there. The plan is to go for my 50th birthday which is just under four years away. Lots of research is going to be needed but I can use her photos as reference points for places I would like to visit.
The Mystery Machine - I saw a van when we were walking that reminded me of The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. The van I saw was bright yellow and not the psychedelic colors of the real one, but it got me curious about The Mystery Machine. There was not a lot of information about the van itself, but there is a good Wikipedia read on the Scooby Doo series here.
I have decided to start a Curiosity Journal where I can record things that make me curious and do some research on them. Research is a writer's friend.
I will go one step farther by saying that curiosity needs to incite action, otherwise it remains just an idle curiosity. I am not saying you need to take action on everything that interests you but you must follow through on some. Take for instance the Aston Martin, they are not plentiful were I live, but there is a great vintage car museum only an hour away that could incite my curiosity of old cars and give me a subject for my passion of photography. I also want to watch Goldfinger, it has been a long time. Ireland will come in its appointed hour, until then I will gather ideas of places I want to go. The Mystery Machine may incite nothing more than watching a few Scooby Doo episodes and reliving my childhood a little, but that could lead to a great blog post.
So in the spirit of needing a change, I will be sharing on Friday Finds a few things that make me curious each week and the actions those curiosities incite.
What makes you curious? I would love to hear.
Joining Kim for Friday Finds
20 comments:
You've expressed your arguments very eloquently and persuasively, but I'm not sure I agree with Elizabeth Gilbert when she suggests that passion is either a rare thing or a one night stand. It seems to me that just about each and every one of us is passionate about something, which must make passion pretty close to being a universally experienced emotion. And when we're really passionate about something it doesn't just come and go: think, for example, about the great reformers of by-gone ages (suffragettes, anti-slavery campaigners, civil rights activists) whose passion about injustice sustained them through great hardships for years and years. In my (Irish and passionately held) view passion is a driving force that gets us out of bed every morning to throw our shoulders to the wheel and get the job done. Curiosity may well lead us to discover our true passion(s) and real calling, but, speaking personally, the hook that makes me come back again and again, once I've figured out the how and the why, is my passion for the subject. All the best, Bonny
Oh, I love this! Thanks for sharing your journey through photos and words!
This is fun! I love the idea of a "curiosity journal." This idea would make a good blog theme, too.
I think I'll get started on my own list of things I'm curious about!
I can certainly relate to the Ireland part...My curiosity about Ireland (where my ancestors and my husband's ancestors came from) led to three amazing trips and an undying passion for the place. We both did genealogical research and went to visit important family sites. It's a very easy country to drive around yourself -- one you get the hang of the other side of the road -- and there are wonderful B and Bs everywhere where you can stay with and get to know Irish people. Some not-to-miss places include Newgrange, the Cliffs of Mohr, Cork, Dublin of course and the Book of Kells, Kinsale, the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, the Burrin, Kylemore Abbey...and that is just a small start. The great thing is that it's a small country and you can cover an awful lot in a relatively short time. Now you've gotten me all passionate....;-)
Sarah, I love reading how your mind works. Seeing each friend evolve, question, and process life's experiences - this is how we learn from and encourage each other. Your curiosity is certainly not idle! You are action-oriented, and I am so hopeful that your trip to Ireland for your 50th birthday will become a reality. I am curious about people - more so than places. I doubt I'll ever be able to discern the subtle differences between passion and curiosity, but I do know that I want to be a lifelong learner - and both passion and curiosity are needed for that goal. Looking forward to your next posts and your curiosity musings.
Ahhhh ---- Ireland. My younger son went in 2009 with the Hope College soccer team & I lived vicariously through his trip. A beautiful place it seems to be.
Car museum - an hour away? Might that be the Gilmore Car Museum which is less than 10 minutes from my home? (hint-hint)
Curiosity - life would be so dull without it. I'm curious about building upon a passion of mine, that like you ebbs & flows differently each day, and whether or not I could make a decent go of it? Still working through it.....
Ah Ireland I love it especially the music. We celebrated Mark's 40th in Dublin and have also visited Cork and Kindsale. Just make sure you pack your paisley boots ! Italy calls to me especially Venice which I have visited twice. I too find that I wax and wane mostly between digital and hands on art. Every now and again I get the paints out but digital always wins.
Looking forward to seeing where your curiosity takes you!
You have the most interesting posts . . .
Loved the barn . . . oh my, so nice . . .
And the emerald island . . . don't get me going! You will be IN LOVE as you look out the window of the jet getting close to landing( especially flying into Shannon.). Gorgeous photo from your friend!
I am hooked on my CURIOUS about your CURIOUSITY . . .
Oh Curiosity! Yes that is what fuels this explorer. Absolutely great post!
Well, your curiosity journal should be lots of fun! I'll be along for the ride each Friday. Can't wait!
When I read those words by Elizabeth Gilbert I let out a deep breath, it really was okay I wasn't passionate everyday about something. My passion comes and goes too, a cycle of ups and downs... like most things in life. A curiosity journal sounds like fun, so does traveling to Ireland. I saw a Mystery Machine van driving to Florida on hwy 75 a few years back, it was a sight to see. Wonderful post.
Sarah.... first of all I love your barn pic,,,, I am a country girl so of course I love barns,,,,, secondly, you are an inspiration to me,,, I love reading your posts and I am curious about many things,,,,,and I like to research things, so a journal would be a wonderful idea,,,, that way I would remember what I learned LOL....
thanks again for sharing ,,,,
Interesting and thought provoking post today. I really love the old barn photo - creative edit.
I love the quote about passion - so yay, I'm not alone! I'm always curious about something, then I'll research it until I'm either satisfied or bored with it. I'll be interested to see where your curiosity takes you.
Oh something more to look forward to, curiosity added to the coffee shop chronicles and I am lovin' those barns. I'm coming back so you can take me along barn hopping. You don't know how many times I have said in my head, I really need to stop and go back, but so many times I don't. I am heeding your advice.
Love your writing and your images are wonderful, the old barn is my very favorite!
Oh curiosity - I am full of that! Reading my Grandad's research always fires the curiosity in me and my head is always full of questions. Have a great week my friend.
Ohhh.....love this post. Working in the school system I am VERY curious at what makes some of these moms tick. What are these women thinking and what are they going to do with their day when their kids go to middle school. I do believe they are making life terribly difficult and are making their kids targets from the "bigger" kids that don't have helicopter moms. It's maddening to me. I do enjoy armchair curiosity and barn traveling through you!
I look forward to see what else makes you curious. I love this post - and especially the barn photo! You will love Ireland, I'm sure.
I'm also curious about many things, mainly things I encounter during my normal daily life. That curiosity lets me learn new things - or as you said, do some research. It's always interesting - and can lead from one thing to the other, and suddenly two hours have passed be!
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