How I Found My Life’s Passion in a Cup of Coffee

“Serious, dude? This is all you’ve talked about for an hour…”

I have a confession to make. One that, while not embarrassing for me, often garners funny looks from people when I talk about it. The “Serious, dude? This is all you’ve talked about for an hour…” kind of looks.

I LOVE coffee.

There. I said it.

And i’m not talking about just any old cup a joe; I mean the good stuff. Over the years I’ve invested a lot of money and time into being able to craft the best cup I can. I’ve bought the burr grinders, the electric kettles, the manual pour-over bonmacs and chemex set ups—all of that fun stuff. And i’ve spent countless hours researching the best methods to use, the best companies to buy from, and the international farmers that they get there supply from. Heck, I spend 30 minutes a day just making 2 cups of coffee.

I do this not because I want to be a know-it-all or coffee snob, but simply because I’m passionate about making the best mug-full of caffeine I can.

Be right back; 15-minute coffee break…

Passion.

That’s what we’re really talking about here. The kind of passion that gets you excited to wake up in the morning, to experiment, to try something new, to hone in on your craft—whatever that may be. The kind of passion that makes you feel alive, more in love with the journey you’re taking than dollar amount in each paycheck. For me, my passion is creating. Whether it’s a great cup of coffee, a motion design or animation, a brand logo or company identity, or a song or piece of music I’m working on; it’s all about creating, and it’s all connected. You see, sometimes when I sit down at a piano and play a few chords, it sparks a thought about approaching motion design from a new or unique perspective. Sometimes when I try a new pasta recipe, the collaboration of interesting ingredients makes me think of a new way to interact with my-coworkers or clients. It’s all about creating something new and authentic.

Recently I’ve discovered that to be the person I’m supposed to be, to be the kind of person that can craft a story worth telling, I need to be daily living out my passions, brave enough to fail, persistent enough to succeed. The work involved in pursuing your passions can be strenuous and at times exhausting, but it’s worth it. I’m discovering that I’m never more alive than when I’m creating, than when I’m feeding my passions.

So, what is your passion? Is it creating? Is it crunching numbers? Is it being the best darn Scrabble player you can be? Whatever it is, I hope you’re discovering, recognizing, and living out your passion. Let me know about your passions in the comments below. Your comment may just spark my next creative thought

– Dustin

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