“Just do what you love and it will all work out.” How many times have we heard that misplaced motivational crock of crap in our lives? It all sounds great until reality slaps you hard upside the face.
We all have lots of things we are passionate about.
Here’s one — I’m passionate about music. In fact – I love music, I love concerts, I love guitars and I’m fairly certain I’d love crushing a wicked lead guitar riff in front of 20,000 people. One problem – I can barely play any of the four acoustic guitars I own, I can’t sing, and I don’t even have an electric guitar. Come to think of it, I do have an amp too… but I’m honestly not even sure why I bought it. My passion isn’t my purpose.
We often get confused in life, believing that our passions must be where our purpose lies. But I really think that we’ve got it backwards. Passion isn’t purpose – but knowing your purpose may help ignite some passions.
I really got to thinking about all of this on a recent trip to New Orleans.
I had the chance to see a living example of that rare instance where someone’s purpose had ignited a passion that inspires everyone that witnesses it.
I knew it the minute I saw it. Or really, I knew it the minute I felt it. It was one of those moments that touches you, and forever alters something inside of you. You know, those rare moments in life when you realize that in this exact moment, you are witnessing greatness. It’s that feeling you know that you’ll never be able to replicate again, and it makes you instantly overwhelmed with gratitude for having had the experience.
Have you ever had one of those?
For me, it all happened while I was walking in the French Quarter. I stumbled across a gathering crowd cheering on a quartet of street musicians just ripping into song after song of some of the most glorious jazz I’d heard in some time. I can still picture the moment. I can still feel the energy in the air.
A simple set up at the corner of the Royal and St. Peters Street:
- a drummer in ripped jeans, a camo hat, yellow Nikes and a bright red sweatshirt, just holding down the beat
- a little bit older gentleman dressed in knock about chinos, riffing on a shiny tuba with the words “Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans” engraved on the bell
- a young man in denim laid back in his card table folding chair with his scratched up sunset red guitar and street amp laying down some sweet rhythm
- and finally, the most amazing jazz clarinetist I’ve ever heard and obvious leader of the group, a woman dressed for the weather in pink slacks, a tie dye t-shirt, and the biggest smile you have ever seen, just sitting back and owning the street surrounded by collection buckets, with the hopes of gaining a few hard earned dollars for a hard day’s work. Or so I thought.
How wrong I was.
I continued to enjoy the show and out of curiosity, I searched “Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans” only to find this. That moment confirmed what I already had felt in the deepest parts of my being.
I had just experienced a musician whose intense passion for her craft emanated from the depths of her heart, driven by an unwavering sense of purpose. Doreen’s passionate performance was perfectly aligned with her purpose of bringing joy to the world through her music.
And the best part of this story is that Doreen Ketchens didn’t need to be on that street corner that day out of necessity to make a few bucks. She really didn’t.
She was there simply to provide joy to the ragtag bunch of tourists who stopped to listen.
You see, Doreen is a world renowned clarinetist and has been called Lady Louie, Miss Satchmo & the Female Louis Armstrong, to name a few.
She is classically trained and has an honorary Doctorate degree in music. She has toured around the world, played for four U.S. Presidents and performed at the Kennedy Center before a full house… just to name a few of her accomplishments.
Doreen inspired me deeply that day. I’d actually say that she changed me just by showing up as her true self.
Soon, you will find her in a painting on my wall, serving as a constant reminder that embracing my purpose will undoubtedly ignite my passions in a way that allows me to bring my best and most authentic and unique self to the world.
Have you had a moment like this in your life – something so life changing that it forever becomes a part of who you are? If so, I want to hear about it. Tell me in the comments below!