FULL-TIME PART-TIME PROFESSION OR PASTIME

"Blessed is he who has found his work, let him ask for no other blessing"...Thomas Carlyle.

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again, "I absolutely envy and admire those who do what they love for a livin." With that said, I equally empathize with those who, like myself, aren't nearly as fortunate.

Last time around we recognized NHL all-star Teemu Selanne, prior to that I gave a shout out to Paul Rodgers, Charlie Parker and Pablo Picasso. I've touched on the prospect of Ingzig establishing a relationship with organizations such as NASCAR, the NFL, NBA, AMA, and Tour de France. Why? Because when it comes to work, engaging work, these guys got it down. No nine-to-five grind here; it's purely a labor of love.

Of course the harsh reality is that we can't all do what we enjoy professionally, but that certainly doesn't mean we can't learn a thing or two from those who do. The way I see it the aforementioned individuals and organizations not only symbolize some of the best in doin what'cha love for a livin, they also epitomize the art of Everyday Earnest Effort, and if the rest of us can apply a similar set of principles to our own ambitions we too can rein in the just rewards of a more fulfilling way of life. Now I know exactly what you're thinkin, "But that's what they do, it's their livelihood, I can't possibly invest that kind of time and effort." And that's OK, because 3E isn't only for those who are able to pursue their hopes and dreams full-time, it's for anyone who in their spare time is willing to make a full-time commitment. And according to Psychology Today magazine that's exactly what J.K. Rowling did during the most strenuous chapter of her life. "As a newly single mother struggling to support her daughter after the breakup of her marriage, Rowling committed herself to the dream of becoming a published novelist. It was 1994, and when baby Jessica would fall asleep Rowling would seize the moments of peace to furiously scribble out Tales of Harry Potter. The rest as they say, is literary history."

John Erskine, former concert pianist with the New York Philharmonic, as well as director of the Metropolitan Opera Association, learned one of the most valuable lessons of his life when he was only fourteen years old. His piano teacher asked him, "How many times a week do you practice, and how long do you practice each time?" He told her he tried to practice once daily, for an hour or more. "Don't do that" she responded. "When you get older time won't come in long stretches, practice in minutes, whenever you can find them; ten or fifteen before school, after lunch, and between chores. Spread your practice throughout the day and music will become part of your life."

So ya see, be it full-time, part-time, profession or pastime, both in good times and in bad, each of us has an opportunity to make the best of the time we have. "This time, like all times," said Ralph Waldo Emerson, "is a good one, if we know but what to do with it." Merry Christmas, see ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.