This book kept popping up on my Goodreads feed, and had incredible reviews underneath it. That’s no surprise, as Commonwealth, the first Ann Patchett novel that I read, was absolutely incredible. I finished it in less than 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down.
The Dutch House was another book that I couldn’t put down. Although a layered narrative, in true Patchett style, the story thread around following passion versus career resonated with me the most. Patchett has a way of bringing things together fully by the end of her novel, yet leaving you wanting more. I wasn’t surprised that I flew through the book, but I was a bit sad when it was over, I must admit.
This blog is the result of following passion versus career. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to write for the majority of my career thus far, but the subject matter is fixed and although creative, doesn’t necessarily allow for a great deal of flexibility.
I started writing on here to not only showcase my style, but also to share stories about things that matter to me. Due to the demands of Graduate studies and later experiencing burnout (which I’ll dive into in a future post), I lost a lot of the energy I used to put into socializing. I prefer being with a small group than in a loud bar, and I love cozy nights at home with good food and a good book.
They do say that staying in is the new going out, and seems especially popular among folks in my generation (since we don’t have the financial freedom our parents did). I have been making changes in my habits and routine to accommodate time to be inspired. I’ve been getting back to the gym, experimenting with making more (as I’m a person that appreciates structure and process), and writing thoughts and ideas as they come to me either in a note on my phone, or in one of the notebooks that I keep around me.
Do what you need to do to get inspired. There’s a lot more to life than sitting on the couch and binging Netflix. Time is not going to wait on you, and I know I won’t be waking up at 30 saying “I wish I had done that when _________.” Don’t let that happen to you, either.
Here are some of the things I’ve done/continue to do:
- Take time to get outside and do physical activity. A short walk around the neighbourhood without your phone can work wonders.
- Find a good newsletter that delivers content in a way that is comfortable for you to consume. I love HubSpot Marketing and The Hustle.
- Take an online course to “skill up” outside of your day job, especially if you’re in a role that doesn’t feed into your passion. Look at Udemy, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning to get started.
- Listen to a podcast, take notes, and deliver your perspective on it in a short video or a written post.
I know this started as a book review and branched off into life lessons, but that’s the beauty of literature; impact and interpretation will differ from person to person.
Khadijah Plummer Consulting 