This Time Last Year

Around this time last year I launched 12th Tribe. I was living at my mom's house selling vintage shorts and unique jewelry I hunted and found from local flea markets. 12th Tribe was an idea at this time last year, and while I'm back in Northern California for the week, there have been many moments of reflection about what has emerged from those days. 

I'm taking the time to write today simply because there aren't enough days where we show gratitude for what we have. We rush through to finish 100 projects, and without a glance, we tend to miss what we worked so hard for.

I think about last year and I had just graduated college. With two coexisting obsessions in my life, the desire to intertwine both into my daily routine was high up there on the things to do. As the end of college approached, the infamous inquiries about what the future held had seen conversation after conversation. I've been fortunate to have passions in life, but as peers around me began their career I noticed their passion hadn't become a part of their 40 hour work week. I noticed how easy it was to lose track of what we truly love as a million different ideas and opinions about which career path headed our way. It's no doubt we have the tendency to jump on the first opportunity at our feet or we may even let the monetary symbol of a potential income hinder our true vision. Our vision that may be our ultimate determinant of true happiness. 

Happiness is far greater than the dollar value and it may take time to see that, but with time you will see. 

Jim Carrey gave was a commencement speaker a few years ago, and left a noteworthy remark reminding us that we are all going to fail in life, for it fosters growth and change. He raised the questions, if we are going fail at something we don't enjoy why not just fail at something you love? If you are going to work harder than you ever have, why are we not all working the hardest in what we enjoy? Many people think hobbies should stay hobbies, and yes while some of them should, we live in an era where hobbies turn career right and left. Has anyone noticed the Forbes article about one of the wealthiest 20 year olds? He's making 10 million dollars a year playing video games on YouTube! How? I have no idea, but where I'm going with this is if you love something enough you will work day and night doing it. Not because you have to, but because you crave it! You will fail miserably sometimes, but each failure you make, the closer you get to succeeding. We must accept that we are not perfect, and when those imperfections strike, remind yourself how important it was that you failed and look at what may have caused it.

So yes, I'm a firm believer that following your passion is beyond important (clearly), and what's even more important is failing a little while you do it.  Now, don't be afraid of your dreams. Live them. Time flies by too quickly to spend years saying what if? If anything, oops is better than what if! (cliche? totally. but totally important.)