We hear so much about identifying our passions. Or following your bliss, so to speak. This may be a vocation which excites you, or a lifestyle, or a hobby. From experience, I can say that having passions makes life better. Most people do not identify their passions by "figuring them out" in their head. They feel them in their hearts and bodies, in their emotions. A passion grabs you, keeps you interested, may make you lose track of time, and keeps you coming back for more. Passions are not always comfortable; ask any artist who struggles with their expression of their art. But it makes life worth living.

Specifically, how do passionate pursuits benefit you and your life?

Are you living in the fast lane? Is your life speeding by and you're wondering why?

It's all about choices. Life is not inherently fast, we make it so. Life is meant to be experienced, felt, enjoyed and understood. When your life slows down, you have time to reflect, time to enjoy, time to choose wisely, time to relate, time to think. When your life is fast, you miss so much of what makes life worth living: our families, our friends, our interests, our purpose, our spirituality, our community. You make mistakes because there is not enough time for analyzing or judging. You just jump in, thinking that you don't have time. Many folks report they don't have a clue about what they want to be when they "grow up" or what their dreams are. It's no wonder! When do we have time to sit and reflect upon our lives, our choices, our desires.

I just finished reading the book by Elizabeth Gilbert, "Eat, Pray, Love" and I loved it. It is about the author's personal spiritual journey experienced through a year traveling to Italy, India and Bali.

After experiencing an extended, crushing divorce, an unhappy love affair, and deep depression, she decided to give herself the gift of a year to sort things out and discover more of who she is and what she wants.

She started in Italy where she experienced 4 months of pleasure; eating, beauty, Italian lessons (a beautiful language) and friendships. She then went to India to live in an ashram where she experienced devotion and four months of austere spiritual exploration. Then the last four months were spent in Bali in Indonesia where she worked with an old medicine man. This part of the trip was where she learned balance between worldly pleasures and spiritual transcendence.

The story is fascinating and will hold your interest. I could hardly put it down as I wanted to find out what happens next.

I love music and listen to it while I'm writing this ezine as well as my blogs. Here's my latest acquisition and I absolutely love it. It's my new favorite. I've already listened to it a few dozen times and I just got it!

It's called Spanish Dances; Selections from Luz Y Norte; composed by Lucas Ruiz De Ribayaz (Madrid 1677); and performed by the Harp Consort. It's classical, baroque, but unusual. Instruments include guitar, lute, archlute, banduria, theorbo, viola da gamba, lira, percussion, harps, organ and harpsicord.

If you go to the site below, you can listen to snippets of each of the 25 songs on the CD. The music composed has roots in Spanish, Italian, South American and African dances. It's beautiful and stirring. I especially love the second track, Xacaras.

To read more and hear songs...

In his book, Retire Early and Live the Life You Want Now, John F. Wasik introduces the concept of a personal ecology. He asserts that you can find a new prosperity by balancing your personal ecology. So what is a personal ecology? Wasik states:

"Ecology is a beautiful word that is all about relationships. It shares the root word oikos with economy, which is from the classic Greek meaning household. A figurative translation is keeping your house is order. Physicist Fritjof Capra has an even broader definition that calls ecology "the study of the relationships that link all members of the Earth Household". That lofty idea doesn't exclusively refer to the place in which you live, however. It refers to the life energy you spend in working, commuting, relaxing, family time, playing, worshiping, or any other activity you can name. The relationships to these different "rooms" of our lives are interdependent. None can exist independently."

Sam: This is it. Frodo: This is what? Sam: If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been. Frodo: Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

Aragorn: Gentlemen, we do not stop till nightfall. Pippin: What about breakfast? Aragorn: You've already had it. Pippin: We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast? Merry: I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip. Pippin: What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he? Merry: I wouldn't count on it.

"I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way." -- Frodo

Read more articles and get more fr*ee resources in both my blogs:

Mid-Life Unfolds Blog

Solo Biz Buzz Blog .

And my newest blog for those of you in the Houston area,

Houston Nature Walks Blog

Check out the art-related and art as process workshops and other offerings at Wild Heart Art.