Welcome to Gypsy Wednesday! Every Wednesday, I strive to highlight all the juicy morsels related to travel and beyond.
I got tagged! Not for an STI or anything, Got Passport charged me with the task of creating a passion board. Aye created hers while taking an art class in 2006. After dusting it off recently, she discovered something interesting. Aye’s spirit is infectious, spreading her love for inspiration and art to yours truly. Upon being asked, my first thoughts were – The Secret. Remember that phenomenon? A DVD, book, and glitzy marketing campaign amounted to one key point — visualization. If you picture it, it will come. Whether it’s an apple red Porsche or Halle Berry bursting out of a gigantic cake.
Ah, that’s not a passion board. The operative phrase is ‘raison d’etre’. Translated in English means: ‘something important one lives for’. The Secret hits a nerve on things we desire, but currently lack. I label that ‘grasping for pockets of nothingness’. Passion is fuel, things already in your arsenal, that which fires adrenaline and synapses. Another way to view this is recalling your building blocks. Ditch The Secret, for the answers lie within.
Every decent board requires pretty paper:
The cat assisting (not):
Without further ado, the completed piece!
1. Core Passion
Expression Tools
I grew up in a strange era, a mixture of old communication tools and accelerated technology. What anchors me is literature, symbolic of knowledge, dialogue and storytelling. Powerful stuff.
2. My Obsessions
Wonder Woman
All my close friends know by now, I am a Wonder Woman freak. If I could fit a mummified sarcophagus of her in my room, it would be reality. My Wondy loot spans dolls, books, a lunch box, and a crate of comics. Why?? She was the first solo traveler I discovered. She went to Europe and defeated Nazis, traveled all over America and developing countries, not to mention her birthplace is a fantastic Greek island (Themyscira) where a sun dress and sandals are standard clothing. I was pulled to what she stands for (social justice), plus she owns an invisible plane. How cool is that? Gloria Steinem placed her on the very first cover of Ms. Magazine in 1972.
Coconut
My attraction to coconut could solicit a restraining order. If I could wear it, drink it, or eat it 24 hours a day my life would be complete. Sadly, this could mean I once was one in a past life.
Letters
A good friend hooked me into letter writing. I’m constantly sending postcards or stationary adorned with stickers to far flung mates. Could be a romantic vision, but several authors of note penned correspondence to peers or lovers. Perhaps it’s that drive to divide the personal from the professional, either way I’m wondering how to preserve this treasured hobby on the road.
Sunlight
Would I sacrifice virgins for the sun god? Possibly. That’s the enormity of my passion for buttery rays warming my skin. Friends will attest, lack of sun even affects my mood. Living in Vancouver is not conducive to my sun requirements. Time for a new town!
3. Experience Junkie or Stuff Junkie
If you haven’t already, join the thoughtful discussion on experience over stuff at Uncornered Market. Piecing togther this passion board reminded me of that post. Me? I’m 110% an experience junkie.
Glorious Food
Sustenance. An absolute must, but in recent years I’ve graduated to foodie status. I’m most looking forward to street food. It’s cheap, varied, and reflective of local culture. Extra Imodium, here I come.
Happy Hour
I’ve been known to imbibe on occasion. Must remember to pack extra barf bags. Not those silly ones handed out on airplanes, they are only useful for holding mixed nuts. I allude to serious ones. Thick and big.
Laughter
Humor is my air. I could launch a manifesto on the numerous times laughter kept me alive when circumstances looked dismal. First item I seek in a mate, you better make me laugh, end of story.
Community
Why is this image reminiscent of a Keg commercial? Part of my normal experience, not just travel, is meeting others. I am addicted to stories. Even if someone reeks of the most boring person on earth, I guarantee they have a story. Everyone does.
Travel
My curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to who, what, when, where. The world is large, I am small – seems to fit perfectly in my mind.
Flying
An expansive view from the wing of an airplane always evokes one word to me: freedom. A claustrophobic cubicle just doesn’t cut it.
Animals
Here’s my little terror in cat model mode. A pathetic admission, but I will miss her more than anyone. There’s a magical quality to animals that is often overlooked. Yup, call me crazy cat lady.
Whoopee, that was fun! Thanks to Aye and Jack for the opportunity to participate. I am dying to see passion boards from Candice Walsh, Pamela MacNaughton, Jason and Aracely, Chris Richardson, among several others. Check out Sasha Peakall’s completed board. For Twitter folks, the hashtag is #PassionBoard.
If you haven’t been tagged, do one anyway. Punching through the hectic rhythms of life to muse over your passions might force an important realization – what you’re attracted to is probably what you should be doing. Art may not end wars, but it can stop that internal war. A sound place to begin!
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
@GotPassport – You have a nurturing spirit, which I recognize in myself. Why am I looking forward to meeting you?
@Alison – Sounds like I did your passion board, and look, you didn’t have to lift a finger! Welcome to my site and thanks for the comment. :)
What a fantastic idea and I can help but notice how many of your passions echo my own – travel, check. food and drink, check. Writing, reading and laughing, check. Kitties, three checks :)
Hey there friend-
I’m sorry it has taken me some time to leave a comment for you here. You’ve moved me with your passion. And boy am I so glad that I can be infectious in some ways to inspire others through art and creativity. If that is what I have done then I have done, indeed, a service and made a difference in the world. One passion board at a time eh! thanks for joining me. hugs from Chiang Mai, Thailand.
aye
@Alessandra – Oh you! Thanks. :)
Love this, ALOT, very deep and inspiring Ms. Mark!
@GRRLTraveler – LOL! You were exposed to the cheesy Wonder Woman. It was a poor representation of her, but hey – at least it wasn’t the typical role of housewife or gal Friday. It’s always nice to be reminded of our passions. :)
Going thru my email newsletters, the word “passion” struck me. Perhaps I’m still seeking it a bit or need to recuperate from it but I love your board. The wonder woman snip made me laugh- as a child I’d love to watch the show, but was always a bit of her… perhaps it was those blue-starred briefs or her invisible jet. It’s so necessary to walk through our passions from time to time. I’m glad that you’ve reminded me to walk through mine.
@Andi – Thanks for commenting, lady. Hope your business venture(s) worked out? LOL.. not sure what you’ve learned about me, but clue me in one day. So cool about your inspiration board, this was my first one!
@Joel – Oh man, you’re a pretty cool nerd though. :) I haven’t seen that animated film. Please tell me the name and I’ll get it right away!! Is it just called Wonder Woman?? Once you get that travel feet, you might see a mixture of joy and misery when it comes to less material possessions. Latin America overall emphasize family and community more than a microwave oven. It will be interesting to read your impressions.
@Mike – Thanks for stopping in, STUCK is no good. If my little post inspired some action, viola! :)
@Candice – Girlie, I’m intrigued to know your obsessions.
Oooh you’ve totally inspired me again! I’ve been lagging behind with work but hopefully I can make one this weekend! I think it might be similar to yours. ;)
Definitely inspiring in more than one way! I’ve been feeling a little “stuck” lately and realized I haven’t done much with vision boards (as I’ve come to know them) lately and I really like your ideas for them.
Thanks!
Great stuff, Jeannie. Ooops, I mean great “experience” reading this. Your “pre-trip” posts are wonderful – I can’t wait to read them during your travels.
I love the experience vs. stuff discussions – I can honestly say that visitng Rio changed me with seeing how happy and joyful so many people were with their lives without having stuff. While I haven’t totally disconnected, I did cut back significantly on stuff. I realized I desire to grow the “experience” side of myself instead – which is what RTW is all about.
So, did you see the Wonder Woman animated film a couple years ago? I thought it brought her story to life much better than I’d seen before (even better than a lot of the comics). Nathan Fillion’s Steve Trevor was my favorite incarnation of that character, without a doubt.
Best, Joel (aka nerd)
I love this–you really learn a lot about a person this way, huh? I’ve had an inspiration board for as long as I can remember. It truly DOES inspire!!!