Shoot for the stars. Dream big. Believe in yourself. We’re all familiar with these notions but, for most of us, familiarity is where it ends.
Sure, our grade school selves have all painted pictures and wrote stories about how we wanted to be astronauts, Olympians and presidents. But somewhere along the way (perhaps middle school, you can blame everything on middle school) we became acquainted with the red tape of reality and learned to settle for what our standardized test results said we could achieve. Now, in the midst of everyday responsibility, we hear stories of people that are living their dreams but we usually chalk them up to a glimmer of chance. That would never happen to me. Better not quit my day job. I guess I’ll just live for the weekends. Sound familiar?
Enter my dear friend and inspiration in all things life, Cason.
If you are still thinking that passion is something for the dreamers, something that you have resigned never to feel at your desk job, think again. Cason believes that passion is a key ingredient in any career pursuit and she shares her advice on incorporating it into every job, from the nine to five to the graveyard shift to the part-time temp position, below.
Consider the should // “Though passion in a career is a gift, it should be an aspiration no matter what. The reality is that not everyone gets to work their dream job or travel or sit up in a fancy office. Plenty of people in this world work their tails off just to make ends meet. With that said, I am a huge believer that the most important passion can be found, created and implemented in the simple fact that you have one more day on this green earth. One more day to work hard and make the most out of every second… taking pride in what you do can be passion enough.”
Experience the meantime // “Sometimes life's gifts do not arrive in the neatly packaged presentations that we hope and dream for but there are lessons to be learned and people to help along the way, no doubt. My father, an avid outdoorsman who liked to kayak, always said, "when the water gets rough, you turn your nose into the wind and paddle like hell.” Bring it on. Dream jobs and careers will fall into place if they are meant to be, in my opinion. The neat thing is that gleaning life lessons, including gratefulness, patience, humility and perseverance, along the way is worth the temporary disappointment of not having what you want when you want it."
Plan for passion // “I enjoy making lists. I like to dream big and be spontaneous. Whatever excites you and doesn’t really feel like ‘work’ could end up being your ultimate dream job! Make a list of things you like to do, past successful ventures (lemonade stands included) and see if anything overlaps."
Live in the now // “Honestly, I haven't decided that counseling will be the end all be all for me. I am operating on the here and now. Right now, today, here in this moment, I am following that inner voice that said go back to school and try to impact others positively."
Take heart // “When you fall off a horse, you have to face your fears and get back on. The same goes for loss... even though there are days you do not want to leave your house, or your bed for that matter, there is a restorative process that results from being courageous enough to face your fears.”
Sure, our grade school selves have all painted pictures and wrote stories about how we wanted to be astronauts, Olympians and presidents. But somewhere along the way (perhaps middle school, you can blame everything on middle school) we became acquainted with the red tape of reality and learned to settle for what our standardized test results said we could achieve. Now, in the midst of everyday responsibility, we hear stories of people that are living their dreams but we usually chalk them up to a glimmer of chance. That would never happen to me. Better not quit my day job. I guess I’ll just live for the weekends. Sound familiar?
Enter my dear friend and inspiration in all things life, Cason.
Cason is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Social Work with an accompanying certification in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is studying to be a counselor and wants to work with people who are experiencing grief and loss. A visit to Cason’s house is always complemented by some sort of delicious homemade refreshment, uncontrollable laughter and a feeling of true ease that results from the pleasure of her company. She possesses an extremely rare gift of conversation and understands that communication is a mutual interaction that involves both listening and speaking. I consider a chat with Cason to be lifeblood and always leave feeling blessed by her words. (If you’re wishing you could schedule a coffee date with her right now, get in line.)
Outside of these character gems, the quality Cason possesses that has always stood out to me the most is her passion – passion for life, passion for those she loves and passion to pursue her dreams with unrelenting determination. She considers career to be a logical continuation of this pursuit - “Pursuing a career, every day of your life, without passion… sounds like a southern summer without watermelon or homegrown tomatoes… you’ll make it, sure, but it won’t be nearly as enjoyable.”
The passion Cason feels towards her career choice is largely influenced by her story, which reveals true heart.
“I experience grief, in some form, every day. I lost my dad five years ago this past April. I think about him every day and miss him beyond belief. I was once told that when you lose a parent you get inducted into this 'club' that you never want to be in… you despise it and it shatters your world and leaves you broken. Then, ten months later, my best friend’s dad died suddenly and totally without warning; he had been like a second dad to me, especially after my own father had passed. All I could do was cry every tear with her and wrap my arms around her family members… it was then and there in that hospital that I knew the Lord had brought us together for a grander purpose. What I had been told about being in this terrible club is absolutely true; you loathe every bit of pain, heartache and suffering. However, there is light, there is goodness and there is restoration to be found. I wanted to pursue a career in counseling because I want to be a messenger of hope, a deliverer of encouragement and to bear witness to miracles.”
Our stories are written for a reason. The lessons we experience are what mold not only our character but our interests as well. If we can cultivate that interest, as Cason has, into a passionate pursuit of education and career, there is no end to the impact it may have on our lives and the lives of others.
Outside of these character gems, the quality Cason possesses that has always stood out to me the most is her passion – passion for life, passion for those she loves and passion to pursue her dreams with unrelenting determination. She considers career to be a logical continuation of this pursuit - “Pursuing a career, every day of your life, without passion… sounds like a southern summer without watermelon or homegrown tomatoes… you’ll make it, sure, but it won’t be nearly as enjoyable.”
The passion Cason feels towards her career choice is largely influenced by her story, which reveals true heart.
“I experience grief, in some form, every day. I lost my dad five years ago this past April. I think about him every day and miss him beyond belief. I was once told that when you lose a parent you get inducted into this 'club' that you never want to be in… you despise it and it shatters your world and leaves you broken. Then, ten months later, my best friend’s dad died suddenly and totally without warning; he had been like a second dad to me, especially after my own father had passed. All I could do was cry every tear with her and wrap my arms around her family members… it was then and there in that hospital that I knew the Lord had brought us together for a grander purpose. What I had been told about being in this terrible club is absolutely true; you loathe every bit of pain, heartache and suffering. However, there is light, there is goodness and there is restoration to be found. I wanted to pursue a career in counseling because I want to be a messenger of hope, a deliverer of encouragement and to bear witness to miracles.”
Our stories are written for a reason. The lessons we experience are what mold not only our character but our interests as well. If we can cultivate that interest, as Cason has, into a passionate pursuit of education and career, there is no end to the impact it may have on our lives and the lives of others.
If you are still thinking that passion is something for the dreamers, something that you have resigned never to feel at your desk job, think again. Cason believes that passion is a key ingredient in any career pursuit and she shares her advice on incorporating it into every job, from the nine to five to the graveyard shift to the part-time temp position, below.
Consider the should // “Though passion in a career is a gift, it should be an aspiration no matter what. The reality is that not everyone gets to work their dream job or travel or sit up in a fancy office. Plenty of people in this world work their tails off just to make ends meet. With that said, I am a huge believer that the most important passion can be found, created and implemented in the simple fact that you have one more day on this green earth. One more day to work hard and make the most out of every second… taking pride in what you do can be passion enough.”
Experience the meantime // “Sometimes life's gifts do not arrive in the neatly packaged presentations that we hope and dream for but there are lessons to be learned and people to help along the way, no doubt. My father, an avid outdoorsman who liked to kayak, always said, "when the water gets rough, you turn your nose into the wind and paddle like hell.” Bring it on. Dream jobs and careers will fall into place if they are meant to be, in my opinion. The neat thing is that gleaning life lessons, including gratefulness, patience, humility and perseverance, along the way is worth the temporary disappointment of not having what you want when you want it."
Plan for passion // “I enjoy making lists. I like to dream big and be spontaneous. Whatever excites you and doesn’t really feel like ‘work’ could end up being your ultimate dream job! Make a list of things you like to do, past successful ventures (lemonade stands included) and see if anything overlaps."
Live in the now // “Honestly, I haven't decided that counseling will be the end all be all for me. I am operating on the here and now. Right now, today, here in this moment, I am following that inner voice that said go back to school and try to impact others positively."
Take heart // “When you fall off a horse, you have to face your fears and get back on. The same goes for loss... even though there are days you do not want to leave your house, or your bed for that matter, there is a restorative process that results from being courageous enough to face your fears.”
Let’s get serious about living our dreams.
Allie
What a powerful woman. As if I didn't already love this gal. Way to go, Allie.
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