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Jul 2010
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Life’s Passions…How to Possibly Pursue Them All…???

Posted by Garrett      
  

As I slipped into a sleep filled night yesterday evening I dreamt of being a rancher. Since I was a young boy I’ve always had a love for horses, for ranches, for the cowboy way. My Grandpa was a cowboy. At one time he owned 100 horses with a friend. My Dad grew up with his own horses. I would definitely say horses are a passion of mine. One of my biggest dreams in life is to someday have horses and form a relationship with them.

As you know food runs deep in my core. The satisfaction and delight I receive from making and consuming food is immense. There’s no doubt I desire to help people live a better life through better nutrition, that’s why I founded AthleticFoodie. But what about working in a kitchen for real? Some of the best times I’ve ever had in my life are working in kitchens. Should I become a chef? I wonder.

Growing up on Lake Michigan and in Wisconsin I was always around and on lakes. My family had a sailboat on which we cruised all over Lake Michigan. Being on and in the water is one place I feel most at peace. A dream of mine is to cruise the world on a boat, to work on the water, even to live on the water. At one point I wanted to own a marina and have a custom boat building business.

So what do I do with all my passions and dreams? There are so many more dreams and passions which I don’t even have the time to explain here, much less pursue. Maybe some of you have felt a similar way…? What do you do with this feeling? Do you ever worry you won’t be able to follow all of your dreams or pursue all of your passions? I do!

Part of me thinks I should just spend my life bopping around from one passion to the next. Go work on a ranch for a while, for a summer, for a year, for five years…whatever it takes to fulfill that spot in my heart. Maybe I’ll get stuck there and realize that is my true calling. What if I just decided to leave everything behind in America and go travel the world in search of food? Work in restaurants all over the world until my heart is content. Who knows what I’ll do.

What I decided last night before going to sleep is this: Swimming is still the most important thing in my life right now. My focus for the next month is preparing myself to swim fast in Irvine, CA. I still genuinely love swimming and the pursuit of perfection in what I do. Better yet, representing the United States of America is the greatest honor I could ever imagine and will continue to strive to do just that. In the back of my mind I will let all my passions mingle. What comes next I really have no idea. I know in reality, for now I don’t have to know what’s next…even though sometimes that uncertainty is hard for me to grasp. What I know, is in life, I want to follow my passions. I want to do something important. I want to make a difference.

  • Filed under: Olympics, Training

    • 8 Responses for "Life’s Passions…How to Possibly Pursue Them All…???"

    1. Asia Asia July 7th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 1

      I’d say you are making quite a difference right now as is. I have the same thoughts at times, but I think as long as you are not settling and are content with what you’re doing at any one moment, then you’re not losing out. I think you can do it all, in time : )
    2. Ashley Ashley July 7th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 2

      There is no doubt that you’re already making a difference. You’re living proof that a condition as serious as high blood pressure doesn’t have to hold a person back from doing what they love. You’re becoming a successful businessman with AthleticFoodie. I’d say that you’re making quite the difference already.

      When you feel that your swimming career is complete and you’ve done everything you’ve set out to do, you will still have plenty of time to become a sailing rancher who is also an executive chef. :)

    3. J J July 7th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 3

      You got to see Vision Quest. The character in this movie is trying to achieve his goal of winning the state wrestling championship. However, the true heart of the movie is pursing a goal with all the passion and determination in life. All of us see a true inspiration in your ability to promote healthy living, strength of character, and genunine gift of humor! Rock On!
    4. Garrett Garrett July 7th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 4

      Asia…I’m glad you think I make a difference. I really make a serious effort to help. What I’m doing does make me happy but the difficulty for me is that I’m always thinking about other things too…and how I can do more!

      Ashley…you just put a huge smile on my face with your last comment. Being all those things would be awesome yet ridiculous haha.

      J…Thanks for the kind words. I hope I can continue to inspire:)
    5. shelly shelly July 7th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 5

      garrett, did u read about a Vision Board? i read it in an O mag. its a way to get your dreams and goals out of your head and more importantly, set your mind to achieving the goals, kind of subconsciously. you first need to write, draw, or put a pic of your dream/goal/wish on a large board. collect a few of them. put the board up and look at it for a few days. then, throw it away – part from your board altogether. in time your subconscious mind will actively seek out these dreams/goals for you, because you no longer have them within easy reach – on a bit of paper or whatever. im guessing the Oprah mag isnt your fave read, but google Vision board and see if its something you could use.
      BTW your enthusiasm for life somehow transmits thro the pages and is inspirational ;)

    6. Sarah Sarah July 9th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 6

      A vision board is a GREAT way to visualize dreams and make them a reality…I heard once that God gives us dreams that are so big, we have to grow into them…I take that to mean exactly what you are feeling. So excited and passionate about so many things and this overwhelming feeling that you want to do EVERYTHING….I’m sure you’ll find your way into trying everything on your dream list and some areas you’ll spend more time in than others and some will give you more gratification than others, but you’ll reach them and at least touch on all of them….who knows, you may even reach them in a way you never imagined and all of a sudden you’ll realize you just achieved a dream! You never know…..the future is completely yours.
    7. Garrett Garrett July 14th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 7

      Shelly. Thanks for the tip on the Vision Board. I haven’t heard about that specifically but I do something called a five year letter. I learned it from a very successful marketing professor I had. You basically write a letter to yourself which you are to read a certain amount of time down the road. In that letter you describe in detail what you want to have accomplished, have, have done, have seen etc. I haven’t reached five years yet but already some of what I put in the letter has come true. I’m glad my enthusiasm can rub off in a good way. Thanks so much for reading my blog!
    8. Garrett Garrett July 14th, 2010 at 12:00 AM 8

      Sarah. I think you’re definitely right. There’s no doubt in my mind I will touch on most if not all my dreams in some way. Likely I will fulfill many of them in ways I never dreamed possible. For now it’s all so exciting for me to have huge aspirations and work diligently towards them!

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