Dear Friend,

I read this in a book I keep in my "re-read often" pile:

Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question. This question is one that only a very old man asks. My benefactor told me about it once when I was young, and my blood was too vigorous for me to understand it. Now I do understand it. I will tell you what it is:
Does this path have a heart?

-the teachings of Don Juan, quotes in Chop Wood, Carry Water

I learned this past week that the word passion is derived from the Latin word patere meaning "to suffer, to endure." Didn't expect that. How can passion be associated with suffering? A path full of passion, a path with heart, is probably not going to be the easiest to travel. There will mostly likely be numerous difficulties, naysayers, and limited resources. But, when we persevere, through our passions, we live our most meaningful and truth-filled lives.

I have a boat load of passions: writing, painting, exploring, volunteering at used book stores to name a few. And I have a deep desire to make and create. It's not always the most lucrative way to live, but I have embraced a new life of creative uncertainty because this is the life I want to lead. Life is all about learning to suffer well. Nelson Mandela was the best example of that, right?

I was trying to explain to my daughter recently that she doesn't have to know what she wants to be when she grows up, that I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Also, I reserve the right to change my mind over and over again. And you can reserve that right too. Find the paths that have heart, the paths unique only to you. And one path at a time.

I have always known that at last I would take this road, but yesterday I did not know that it would be today. -Narihira

Love,

Ashley

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