How to Find Passion in Life: Creatively Consider Your Childhood

They say to find your true passion in life you need look no further than your childhood. Oprah, for example, as a little girl supposedly lined up her dolls and interviewed them.

For me, as a child, I was always on my bike. I have SO many stories about biking – I actually could write a book about them. (Which, someday I intend to do.)

I'm grateful that while there were many years I didn't ride, eventually, my passion for biking came back to my adult life.

Freedom Feels Like Flying

The earliest story I remember was from Sunset Park, a campground on Cross Lake in Central NY where we spent many weekends during the summer. The campsites were mostly on the water, and the general store and rec center was at the top of a steep hill. One year, our campsite was at the bottom of that hill. One day, my Grandma Betty and I rode our bikes to the store, and we had to push our bikes up the hill because it was too steep to ride up. I remember it had to be Grandma Betty, because Grandma Polly never rode a bike that I knew of, and actually always warned us not to ride our bikes into the lake! Grandma Betty and I got our goodies from the store and headed back to our site.

The story goes – or so they tell me – that Grandma Betty was suggesting we walk our bikes down the hill – but I was already gone – bare feet in flip-flops, off the pedals, sticking out right because my little legs couldn’t keep up – fl ying down the hill – hair flowing, no helmet, eyes as big as saucers, a grin on my face- in sheer delight!

I don’t remember Grandma’s suggestion or her panic, as she could do nothing but watch helplessly from the top of the hill. I do remember Dad at the bottom of the hill – arms out, thinking about catching me and at the last minute jumping out of the way. The road flattened and turned and I eventually slowed and stopped on my own, riding safely back to the site. No harm, no foul! Wondering what the fuss was all about.

Neighborhood Activity

I was the youngest and smallest in my neighborhood. In the evening, many of the kids would be out riding bikes. 10-speeds. Big kid bikes. Being the youngest, I still didn’t have one. And I didn’t want to ride my banana seat bike. Gosh, that would be so embarrassing.

Somehow, Dad knew my pain and my heart. I just wanted to fit in and ride with the big kids. So, out came his brown 3-speed and up and down the street he rode – with me on the bar in front of him – with the big kids!

In 5th grade, I made a “Please quit smoking” poster for my dad for Christmas. There wasn’t a dry eye that Christmas morning. In the spring, my dad gave me my first 10-speed bike. A bike he had bought with the money he saved when he quit smoking.

My Sister, My Childhood Friend

Another favorite camping spot was in the Adirondacks. Fish Creek Pond was a campground that had a 3 1/2-mile loop around it. This was a time when there were no cell phones, no video games or TV, but plenty of leisure activities. We cooked, ate, water skied and rode bikes! As a family, we would spend hours riding our bikes around that loop, and later, it was that loop that would bond me with my sister when we were allowed to ride it by ourselves.

Somewhere along the way, I forgot my love of biking. Perhaps it was when bike helmets came out and I was at the age where vanity came before safety. There were many years I did not ride. I lost my passion in life.

In high school, I traded two wheels for my two feet and became a runner, eventually racing anything from 2 miles to marathon distance.

In my 30’s, an injury left me unable to run. A friend, Jim, suggested I try biking. It would be easier on my body. I bought a used bike and fell in love. In more ways than one.

I fell in love with road biking and I fell in love with the friend who suggested it! Jim would eventually become my husband! We have since co-founded Cycle Club Kingston, where we get to lead and ride with local people – from beginner to pro!

Just like when I was a kid, I love riding my bike! The sprinting. The lead out. The climbing of hills. The flying down hill. Seeing new places. Traveling further than I could on two feet. Pushing my body. Feeling both exhilarated and exhausted! Riding my bike in beautiful places is my heart’s desire, and I get to do it with my best friend!

Passion and Career Paths

As I look back upon my own childhood, I had a love of outdoor activities. I had a strong balance of hard work, play, and rest. My childhood passion showed up in my education path, and my undergraduate degree is in recreation. My favorite summer jobs included working on boats or at a resort where my day-to-day life involved facilitating play for others. Eventually, my career took me in a different direction. As I moved inside and mainly work behind a computer, it is extra important that I pursue my passions in my personal life and make sure to build in things that I love into my daily routine.

Your real passion may not show up as your dream job. But a fulfilling life will include a balance of things you feel you have to do with a spark of passion for the things you love to do.

Your Turn: What's Your Passion in Life?

What about you? What are your passions in life? What did you LOVE to do as a child and when did time stand still?

Was it while you were playing, perhaps a sport, or a musical instrument? Is your passion for music part of your everyday life or just a distant memory?

Did you love art class? Did you love drawing, painting, or writing?

Were you building something? What was YOUR Passion and, are you still doing it?