Play

I just watched a great speech on doing what you love for a living by Janet Hsieh on Ted x Taipei. (Youtube to watch!) Janet graduated from MIT in Spanish with dreams of becoming a doctor but in heart she's passionate about traveling. After college, she went to Taiwan where her heritage is and was given the opportunity to work as a model. It was a tough decision to make because she was getting ready to go back to the States for grad school. In the end, she took on this new challenge and stayed in Taiwan. After going through some up and downs she was about to go back to the States, someone introduced her to another opportunity to audition for a tv show host. She was offered the role and was faced with another decision to make. In the end, she took the job because as a tv host that traveled around was perfect. She could have her dream to travel and be paid for it. It was important to follow her dream even though she originally had planned to study to be a doctor. Well, she followed her dream because like modeling which was a once in a life time experience for her at that age, she could always go back to studying later.

So, what she wanted us to know was that "you can only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." She concluded that passion is vital in life and it is possible to make a living out of play but just be passionate.

After watching her speech, of course I accede to the fact that play can become a living. Yet, I know most people don't get to develop their dreams or passions simply because of life. To get through life everyday requires certain commodities and not everyone is blessed enough to not have to worry about the next meal, clothes, and a roof. So no, sometimes we can't just play all day long because we need to survive. Or sometimes we just don't have the right guidance or opportunities. Some people might disagree and say that those who don't succeed or whatever are just lazy bums but I strongly disagree. Before I get side tracked I better end this post on the topic of "play". So, if you have the chance to play, play! If you don't, make the most of what you have and still be thankful. If you have a passion but no time, don't make excuses but make time. There is always a little time in a week for you to do something you like. So Janet is right, passion is vital in life but I have to add that sometimes is luck and fate that determines whether you can play in life too.

The question is, what are you passionate about? (This is where I am stuck.)

P.S - Definitely watch her if you understand mandarin, she throws a little of her language mistakes in and they are pretty funny and cute.